Lithuania has formally removed its ambassador to Russia from his post as part of a broader shift in diplomatic ties and as tensions rise after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. The step reflects a concerted effort by Vilnius to recalibrate its representation in Moscow and signal strong opposition to actions seen as escalating regional instability. The decision sits within a pattern of measured responses from Lithuania aimed at defending national security and aligning with partners in Europe and North America. — Source: Kauno Diena
Lithuanian authorities announced that ambassador Eitvydas Bajarunas will depart from his duties on June 1, with the country planning to shutter its consulate general in Saint Petersburg on June 7. The moves were disclosed through a government draft resolution and reported by Lithuanian media, illustrating a deliberate severing of operational channels in a location considered strategically important for diplomatic presence. The announcements come as part of a broader sequence of diplomatic actions designed to emphasize Lithuania’s stance on Russia’s aggression and to reassess its regional posture in response to ongoing hostilities. — Source: Kauno Diena
Earlier, Vilnius took the step of expelling Russiaule ambassador to Vilnius and several staff members from the Russian consulate in Klaipeda amid claims of atrocities by the Russian military on Ukrainian soil. Russia answered with retaliatory measures, ordering the closure of Lithuanian consulates on its side as a response to what it labeled hostile moves. This tit-for-tat exchange underscores how diplomatic channels can rapidly tighten in response to security crises, affecting not just bilateral relations but regional cooperation frameworks across the Baltic states and the broader European neighborhood. — Source: Kauno Diena