Lithuanian president urges calm as military reinforces border with Russia

Nexus Europa Newsroom
Posted Oct 20, 2026, 02:30 AM UTC · In the digest of 2026-10-20-0230
Lithuanian president urges calm as military reinforces border with Russia
Photo: 15min

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda urged calm over border reinforcements with Russia while addressing air defense gaps and internal defense ministry controversies.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda has urged the public not to panic following the decision to reinforce the nation's border with Russia. Speaking on defense readiness, Nausėda emphasized that proactive measures are designed to mitigate potential risks and prevent provocations, stating, "It is better to take additional security measures in good time to prevent risks than to react belatedly."

Beyond border security, Nausėda highlighted lingering gaps in Lithuania's air defense capabilities and delays in joint drone production ventures with Ukraine. He also expressed frustration over internal friction within the defense establishment, warning that recent controversies involving the defense ministry could cause long-term harm to public trust. Additionally, the president pointed to infrastructure vulnerabilities exposed by recent severe storms.

Sources: 15min, LSM.

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