14 May 2026

Archived edition

Lithuania

Summary

Strategically important military drills are under way in Lithuania today, with some activities kept out of public view for security reasons. At the same time, an audit found 36 million euros sitting unused in defence funds despite a shortfall in national defence financing.

Lithuania’s Financial Crime Investigation Service searched the Seimas offices of Remigijus Zemaitaitis and Daiva Petkeviciene today, then removed several boxes of documents from Nemuno Ausra’s headquarters. Prosecutors linked the operation to a pre-trial investigation into the party’s financing, and the party has already lost a six-month state subsidy worth more than 240,000 euros. President Gitanas Nauseda also vetoed amendments to the Klaipeda port statute that would have allowed ships carrying nuclear weapons to enter the port. Over the past day, Lithuanian armed forces trained with NATO allies to plan operations and coordinate defence plans.

In Kaunas, LTG launched a 45.2 million euro expansion of the Palemonas intermodal terminal that will triple capacity. The transport ministry says the project is critical for moving allied military equipment toward Klaipeda and onward to Latvia and Estonia. In business, Telia unveiled a new artificial intelligence platform for companies, while eBay said it was expanding Baltic firms’ access to 190 markets.

On the household side, Lithuania’s second-pillar pension funds have begun paying savers who left the system, and some of the money is already being used to repay mortgages, consumer loans and car leases early. Vilnius is also hosting Finnish President Alexander Stubb on a state visit at President Gitanas Nauseda’s invitation. In the Mantas Sadauskas murder case, Justina Gaigalaite is seeking lighter detention terms after Ilja Solkanas was released earlier on 5,000-euro bail. Tautvydas Sabonis was named coach of the year in Great Britain.

Lithuania and Ukraine agreed to expand joint drone production. Separately, investigators carried out searches at Remigijus Zemaitaitis’ home, the Aštriečiai headquarters and related offices.

sources: delfi.lt, tv3.lt, 15min.lt, vz.lt, lrytas.lt, lrt.lt

Doctors horrified: deadly intoxication for a baby under two years old

A headline like this in Lithuanian media usually points to a police, hospital, or court case involving a very young child and alcohol exposure, not a broad health story. The likely core facts would be the child’s age, the place where the intoxication was found, and whether medics or police first identified the danger. Without a fresh report from May 13 or 14, the specific incident behind the headline cannot be pinned down with confidence.

Why it matters

These cases can trigger immediate child-protection measures, including hospital care, temporary placement, or a handover to child welfare services. For parents, the consequences can quickly turn criminal, while doctors and social workers have to assess neglect and safety at once.

sources:lrytas.lt

Politics

Conflict with Nemuno aušra politicians: several boxes of documents stolen from FNTT HQ

On May 14, 2026, Financial Crime Investigation Service officers searched the Seimas offices of Remigijus Žemaitaitis and Daiva Petkevičienė, then visited Nemuno aušra’s headquarters and carried out several boxes of documents. Prosecutors said the operation was tied to a pre-trial investigation into the party’s financing. The raid comes as Nemuno aušra has already lost a six-month state subsidy worth more than 240,000 euros.

Why it matters

Nemuno aušra now faces a records check that could reach into its funding sources and accounting. If the probe widens, it could affect the party’s day-to-day work in parliament and its ability to pay for political operations.

sources:tv3.lt

Economy

Expansion at Palemonas terminal worth 45.2 million EUR will boost military mobility

LTG on Wednesday launched a 45.2 million euro expansion of the Palemonas intermodal terminal in Kaunas. The company says capacity will rise threefold and the site will be adapted to handle freight arriving on both the European 1,435 mm gauge and the broader 1,520 mm gauge. The transport ministry says the terminal is key for shifting allied military equipment toward Klaipeda port and on to Latvia and Estonia.

Why it matters

The upgrade should speed up movement of military equipment between Lithuania, Klaipeda port and the other Baltic states, while reducing reliance on a single transfer point. Civil shippers also stand to gain from higher intermodal capacity and smoother freight flows.

sources:vz.lt

Crime

New details in the Sadauskas murder case: under what conditions Gaigalaitė's partner’s father was released

Two weeks ago, the Panevezys district court freed Ilja Solkanas on a 5,000-euro bail, while Justina Gaigalaite and Vilius Solkanas were remanded in custody for two months. Prosecutors have accused the pair of murder, unlawful detention and illegal gun possession in the killing of paramedic Mantas Sadauskas. Gaigalaite is now seeking to have her detention eased, moving the case into a new procedural phase where the court must reassess the restrictions on the suspects.

Why it matters

The next court ruling will decide whether the suspects stay in custody or await trial under lighter restrictions. That affects both the integrity of the investigation and the family’s push for a fast, tightly controlled case.

sources:tv3.lt

Economy

Recover pension funds – to repay loans

Pension funds began transferring money to people who exited Lithuania’s second pillar on April 15, 2026, and some of that cash is already going straight into early loan repayment. Lenders are seeing a surge in people asking to clear mortgages, consumer credit and car leases ahead of schedule. Under the new rules, the state and Sodra’s contribution returns to Sodra, while personal contributions and investment gains are paid out to savers without extra deductions.

Why it matters

For households, the payouts offer a chance to cut monthly debt service and close expensive loans faster, especially consumer credit and car leases. For banks and other lenders, it changes cash flow as some clients swap regular instalments for lump-sum repayment.

sources:delfi.lt

Politics

Lithuania hosts Finnish president on Nausėda invitation

Finnish President Alexander Stubb will visit Lithuania on May 14-15 at the invitation of President Gitanas Nausėda. The presidency said it will be a state visit, with the full programme to be released closer to the trip. It is the fourth state visit to Lithuania this year, after visits by the Danish, Czech and Estonian leaders.

Why it matters

The visit adds another layer to Baltic-Nordic coordination on defence and regional security. It can feed directly into decisions on military cooperation, support for Ukraine and joint procurement.

sources:delfi.lt tv3.lt

Europe

Summary

Kyiv was hit by a fresh Russian drone and ballistic missile attack that killed at least four people and injured 16 more. The strike flattened part of an apartment block, sparked fires and damaged infrastructure and residential areas in several districts of the capital.

Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia launched more than 670 drones and 56 missiles overnight into today. The assault followed another huge wave yesterday, when Ukraine said Russia had already fired at least 800 drones in one of the war’s longest air attacks. Other regions were also struck over the past 24 hours, with local officials reporting casualties including a child. Air raid alerts lasted for hours across the country, while Ukrainian air defences downed some of the incoming weapons in multiple regions.

After the attacks, Zelenskiy renewed his call for stronger air defences and tougher sanctions on Moscow. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in Berlin yesterday that Russia is not yet ready for serious talks on ending the war and that allies should keep up military and financial backing for Kyiv. Merz also said the next EU budget should shift more money into investment and less into subsidies, reflecting Berlin’s own push to raise spending on defence and infrastructure.

In Moscow yesterday, Vladimir Putin again called the new Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile the most powerful in the world and said it should enter combat duty by the end of the year. Russian state media says the missile is meant to replace the Soviet-era Voyevoda as part of a broader nuclear forces upgrade. In Ukraine, a court also authorised the detention of a former Zelenskiy associate in a corruption case.

Twelve people were killed in Kyiv during a massive Russian attack. The UN Security Council will hold an extraordinary meeting on May 19 over the strikes. A Russian fighter jet also accidentally dropped a bomb on Russian territory.

sources: 15min.lt, delfi.lt, lrytas.lt, vz.lt, tv3.lt, lrt.lt

Russia attacked Kyiv with drones and ballistic missiles, at least 4 people injured

Russia hit Kyiv overnight on May 14 with drones and ballistic missiles, injuring at least four people, city officials said. Ukrainian authorities said the strike also sparked fires and damaged infrastructure and residential areas in several parts of the capital. A fuller assessment of damage and casualties was expected later in the morning after rescue crews finished checking the site.

Why it matters

For Kyiv residents, the strike means another night in shelters, disrupted transport and the risk of power or communications outages. Even a small casualty count can ripple far beyond the injured if energy or transit links are hit, affecting tens of thousands of people across the capital.

sources:15min.lt

Politics

War in Ukraine. Across Ukraine – new Russian attacks

Russia hit several regions of Ukraine overnight with drones and missiles, and local officials reported casualties, including a child. Air raid alerts sounded across the country for hours as Ukrainian air defences intercepted some of the incoming weapons over multiple regions. After the strikes, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy renewed his call for stronger air defences and tougher sanctions, saying Moscow is still targeting civilian infrastructure and residential areas.

Why it matters

Civilians bear the immediate cost, spending the night in shelters or fleeing homes after strikes on residential areas and infrastructure. Each new barrage also puts more strain on Ukraine’s air-defence stocks and on Western decisions over more missiles, systems and funding.

sources:delfi.lt

Politics

Putin brags again about the world’s most powerful missile: it could hit any European country

In Moscow on May 12, Vladimir Putin again called Russia’s new Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile the most powerful in the world and said it should enter combat duty by year-end. State media said the weapon is meant to replace the Soviet-era Voyevoda, and this week’s launch was presented as part of a broader nuclear forces upgrade. The message landed as the Kremlin tries to project strategic strength after more than three years of war in Ukraine.

Why it matters

For European capitals, the claim is another public nuclear warning shot from Moscow, aimed at reinforcing deterrence and raising the political cost of backing Ukraine. NATO planners treat these statements alongside Russia’s military moves because they shape air defence, crisis messaging and nuclear posture.

sources:tv3.lt

Politics

Volodymyr Zelensky: Russia fired more than 670 drones and 56 missiles at Ukraine overnight

Overnight into May 14, Russia launched more than 670 drones and 56 missiles at Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said. In Kyiv, a strike flattened part of an apartment block and killed at least four people, according to local authorities. The assault came after another huge barrage on May 13, when Ukraine said Russia had already fired at least 800 drones in one of the war’s longest attacks, underlining the scale of Moscow’s current air campaign.

Why it matters

For Kyiv residents, the immediate issue is survival in damaged apartment blocks and repeated nights in shelters. Hits on homes and infrastructure also strain power, communications and emergency services across Ukraine.

sources:15min.lt

Politics

German chancellor urges higher investments, reduce subsidies in EU budget

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in Berlin on May 13 that the next EU budget should channel more money into investment and less into subsidies. The line mirrors Germany's own fiscal shift this year, as Berlin lifts spending on defence and infrastructure while revising growth forecasts lower. The stance could help set the tone for negotiations over the bloc's next long-term spending plan.

Why it matters

The Commission's next budget proposals will affect farm, cohesion and industrial funding across member states. A shift from subsidies toward investment would redirect money to regions, companies and public infrastructure, changing who wins and who loses in the EU's spending fight.

sources:15min.lt

Politics

Merzas: Russia is not ready to negotiate end of war

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in Berlin on May 13 that Russia is not yet ready for serious talks on ending the war in Ukraine. His remarks came after Moscow hardened its terms, demanding that Kyiv withdraw from all of Donbas before any talks, while Vladimir Putin said direct negotiations could only happen in Moscow. Berlin is pressing allies to keep up military and financial backing for Kyiv, on the view that talks will only become possible once the Kremlin decides the war is no longer worth the cost.

Why it matters

For Ukraine and its European backers, the message is that a quick diplomatic breakthrough is still unlikely. The real leverage remains weapons, money and pressure on Moscow, not the shape of any talks.

sources:delfi.lt

World

Summary

Israeli drone strikes in Lebanon killed at least 12 people yesterday, including a woman and two children. The attacks hit seven vehicles, three of them on a main road south of Beirut, as Washington prepared direct Israel-Lebanon talks on ending the war with Hezbollah and the future of the border.

Washington is also weighing a Ukraine ceasefire formula that would leave a Kremlin-friendly leadership in place in Moscow and ease some sanctions in return for a halt in fighting. The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. officials are discussing an approach that links a ceasefire not only to stopping the war, but also to the shape of power inside Russia. In southern Ukraine, Russian drones hit port infrastructure in the Odesa region overnight, damaging piers, warehouses and equipment. Ukrainian officials say earlier strikes in the same area also hit civilian vessels, and cargo handling and ship movements may now be constrained until repairs are completed.

In Beijing, Donald Trump opened high-level talks with Xi Jinping today, with Iran, trade and U.S. arms sales to Taiwan at the top of the agenda. Xi said U.S.-China relations are the world’s most important and warned that the two powers could be drawn into conflict if the Taiwan issue is handled badly. The White House later described the meeting as good, and both sides are trying to secure a limited trade understanding and set up a channel to manage new disputes.

Washington is pressing Beijing over Iran after Energy Secretary Chris Wright told senators today that Tehran is only weeks away from enriching uranium to weapons grade. Marco Rubio has also signalled that the United States wants China’s help in addressing the Hormuz crisis.

Donald Trump said after meeting Xi Jinping that he had secured a commitment from China and that Beijing would order 200 Boeing aircraft. The U.S. president also said Xi offered help to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and promised not to supply weapons to Iran.

sources: delfi.lt, 15min.lt, lrytas.lt, tv3.lt, lrt.lt

WSJ: U.S. seriously considers preserving a Putin-friendly regime

The Wall Street Journal reported on May 14 that the U.S. is weighing a peace formula for Ukraine that could leave a Kremlin-friendly leadership in place in Moscow and ease some sanctions in return for a ceasefire. The paper said the idea is being discussed by U.S. officials as Russia and Ukraine continue to trade strikes on the front and far behind it. If adopted, the plan would tie a ceasefire to the shape of power inside Russia, not just to the end of shooting.

Why it matters

For Ukraine, the deal would not just pause the war. It could also lock in a political settlement that leaves Moscow’s power structure intact and weakens leverage for any future talks. For European capitals, the question is whether sanctions remain a weapon or become bargaining chips.

sources:delfi.lt

Politics

Russia struck ports in the Odesa region at night

Russian drones hit port infrastructure in Odesa region overnight, with Ukrainian officials reporting damage to piers, warehouses and equipment. Earlier strikes in the same area also hit civilian vessels, showing Moscow is targeting the maritime supply chain as well as shore installations. Emergency crews are now assessing the damage, and cargo handling and ship movements may be constrained until repairs are completed.

Why it matters

Odesa’s ports are a key outlet for Ukrainian exports, so damage there slows the flow of grain and other cargo through the Black Sea. Harm to ships and port gear also raises insurance, security and logistics costs for exporters and foreign buyers.

sources:delfi.lt

Politics

During a visit to Beijing — Xi Jinping’s stern warning: 'Countries may get drawn into conflict'

Xi Jinping told Donald Trump in Beijing on May 14, 2026, that Washington and Beijing could be drawn into conflict if the Taiwan issue is handled badly. The warning came as Trump held his first China visit in nearly a decade, with talks also expected to cover tariffs, chips and rare earths. Taiwan remains the core flashpoint between the two powers, and it is now sitting at the centre of a broader effort to stabilise ties.

Why it matters

Taiwan sits at the heart of global chip supply chains, so any escalation would ripple into electronics production and trade across Asia, Europe and the US. The tone of the Trump-Xi talks could also shape tariffs, export controls and investment decisions for months to come.

sources:tv3.lt

Politics

Israel continues attacks in South Lebanon ahead of Washington talks

Israeli drone strikes in Lebanon killed at least 12 people on May 13, including a woman and two children, the Lebanese health ministry said. The strikes hit seven vehicles, three of them on a main road south of Beirut, as Washington prepared a fresh round of direct Israel-Lebanon talks on May 14-15. The talks are meant to address the end of the war with Hezbollah and the future of the border, even as Israel keeps hitting the group's infrastructure in southern Lebanon.

Why it matters

The strikes raise the risk for Lebanese civilians moving through roads that have become repeated targets. New casualties on the eve of talks make any ceasefire framework harder to sell and complicate plans for border security and returns to southern towns.

sources:delfi.lt

Politics

Middle East. US Energy Secretary: Iran is dangerously close to developing a nuclear weapon

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright told senators on May 14 that Iran was just weeks away from enriching uranium to weapons grade. He said Tehran was already close to the point where a bomb could be built, even if assembly would still take more time. The comments came as Washington and Tehran keep up talks over limits on Iran's nuclear programme.

Why it matters

The warning narrows the room for a deal in talks over Iran's nuclear programme. If Tehran is this close to weapons-grade enrichment, Washington and its allies are more likely to push for tougher limits, sanctions or military pressure in the Middle East.

sources:tv3.lt lrt.lt

Politics

Xi and Biden? Short meeting in Beijing to hold important high-level talks

Donald Trump and Xi Jinping opened high-level talks in Beijing on May 14, 2026, with Iran, trade and U.S. arms sales to Taiwan at the top of the agenda. Trump arrived in China on May 13 and brought a business delegation, underscoring the commercial angle of the trip. The two sides are expected to try to lock in a limited trade understanding and set up a channel to manage fresh disputes.

Why it matters

The talks feed directly into oil prices, trade flows and technology supply chains. Any deal on tariffs or Taiwan lowers risk for European companies tied to both markets.

sources:delfi.lt