Politics
Lithuania will have a new Prime Minister: Sinkevičius to take up the duties
sources:lrytas.lt
18 June 2026
Archived edition
Lithuania
Summary
Virginijus Sinkevičius is set to become Lithuania’s next prime minister, with Gintautas Paluckas presenting the move as part of a governing coalition deal nearing completion. Parliament is also moving decisions on ILTE, keeping attention on the shape of the next cabinet and control over state investment policy.
Army chief Raimundas Vaikšnoras said more clarity on a new US troop rotation in Lithuania should come soon. Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas had earlier told parliament that Washington promised to replace the departing rotation, but gave no dates or numbers. Vaikšnoras also said Lithuania could receive drone interception systems later this year. In a separate assessment, he did not rule out sending Lithuanian troops to missions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Lithuanian instructors in the UK-led Interflex mission have now trained 60,000 Ukrainian soldiers as of today. Active reserve troops are also training combat skills in the Engineers’ Crash exercise. Border guards turned back 12 migrants at the Belarus border over the past 24 hours.
Vilnius laser company Altechna said over the past two days that its order book rose 41% on demand from AI projects and defence applications. In energy, INIKTI and Energy Balancing announced a partnership they say could raise revenues for power producers by up to 70%. Geneticist Vaidas Dirsė told LRT that genes account for only 10-20% of lifespan, with sleep, stress control, diet and exercise doing most of the work. A court imposed a 10-year prison sentence and asset confiscation for trafficking a large quantity of cocaine, while public attention was also drawn to a case in which a mother returned to a car and found the baby she had left inside dead.
President Gitanas Nausėda said Lithuania backs a more ambitious future EU budget and is ready to increase its contribution. Meanwhile, law enforcement is continuing to investigate the circumstances of MP Jevgenijus Šuklinas’ death.
sources: vz.lt, delfi.lt, tv3.lt, 15min.lt, lrytas.lt, lrt.lt
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Politics
Edgaras Rinkevičius: diplomacy won't help achieve peace while Russia aims to win the war
Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics on June 14 linked Ukraine’s fight to the Soviet deportations of 1941, using a remembrance event in Gulbene and Litene to frame Russia’s war as part of a longer struggle over memory and power. He said diplomacy will not deliver peace while Moscow still believes it can win. The message comes as European capitals keep debating possible talks, but Riga is signalling that any settlement must be tied to military reality, not Russian expectations.
Why it matters
It hardens the Baltic line in Washington and Brussels against pushing Ukraine into an early compromise. For Latvia and Lithuania, the stakes are direct: the way the war ends will shape deterrence and security across the eastern flank.
sources:15min.lt
Politics
Army chief on US troops in Lithuania: more details soon
On June 2, Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas said in parliament that Washington had assured Vilnius that new US troops would replace the rotation ending in Lithuania, but he gave no date or numbers. He said he raised the issue days earlier with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth in Singapore, while more than 1,000 American troops and their equipment were already beginning to leave Lithuania. Kaunas said the timing depends on the US review of force posture in Europe, with more clarity expected soon.
Why it matters
The US troop presence is a core deterrent for Lithuania on the frontier with Russia and Belarus, so any gap in rotation feeds directly into regional security planning. The uncertainty also matters for bases such as Pabradė, which have been built around a steady allied presence.
sources:lrytas.lt
Politics
Interflex mission: Lithuanian instructors trained 60,000 Ukrainian soldiers
Lithuanian instructors in the UK-led Interflex programme have now trained 60,000 Ukrainian soldiers as of June 18, 2026. The training mission has run since the summer of 2022 and brings together Lithuanian troops with other allied trainers on basic combat skills, weapons handling and small-unit leadership. The new figure shows Lithuania remains one of Kyiv’s most active training partners, with fresh rotations still feeding the programme.
Why it matters
For Ukrainian units, the training means faster turnover of soldiers who return with basic battlefield skills and leadership training. For allies, the figure shows that training remains one of the most concrete forms of support for Kyiv, delivering trained personnel rather than statements.
Technology
AI boom and defense focus boosted Altechna: orders jumped 41%
Vilnius-based laser technology company Altechna said its order book rose 41 per cent as demand surged from AI projects and buyers put more weight on defence-related applications. The company makes precision optical components and systems used in semiconductor and industrial lasers, giving it exposure to one of Europe’s fastest-growing supply chains. Altechna now plans to add capacity and target more orders from security and high-tech customers.
Why it matters
For Lithuania’s high-tech suppliers, this points to more work from sectors that place larger, longer-running orders. That can help retain skilled engineers and lift export income from products now in demand across Europe.
sources:vz.lt
Health
Professor Stankūnas: many deaths could be prevented – here’s what would help Lithuanians live longer
In a May 10 interview published by LRT, Lithuanian geneticist Vaidas Dirsė said lifestyle, not inheritance, is what most limits how long Lithuanians live. He put genetics at about 10-20 per cent of longevity, with sleep, stress control, diet and exercise doing the rest. Dirsė also said Lithuania sits near the bottom of the longevity rankings, well behind Japan and Singapore.
Why it matters
The practical fallout is felt by older adults and people in midlife, where poor sleep, diet and inactivity start turning into chronic disease. If those habits do not improve, pressure stays high on hospitals, primary care and long-term care systems.
sources:delfi.lt
Europe
Summary
Moscow and the surrounding region came under a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack overnight and into today, with Russia’s defence ministry and mayor Sergei Sobyanin reporting multiple interceptions. The strike set the capital’s biggest oil refinery on fire about 15 km from the Kremlin, and Ukrainian military intelligence official Andriy Kovalenko said the primary processing unit was burning. Air traffic around Moscow was also disrupted, with some airports temporarily halting operations and evacuating people.
Russia struck Kyiv with rockets at dawn today, damaging homes and infrastructure in several districts of the capital. Explosions were heard across the city as residents ran to shelters and air defences engaged incoming missiles and drones. Public transport and power supply were briefly disrupted in parts of Kyiv, while rescue crews checked impact sites and assessed possible casualties.
In Sumy region, Russian forces carried out more than 90 strikes over the past day across six communities and wounded three people. Authorities in the border area were still assessing damage to civilian sites and transport links today. Ukraine also received the bodies of 522 dead people from Russia today, and officials have begun identification work while arranging further repatriations with mediators and international organisations.
Ukrainian strikes also reached occupied Crimea, where reports said about 20 explosions hit a railway bridge over the North Crimean Canal. The target was a transport link used by Russian forces to sustain logistics on the peninsula.
The US announced a new multi-billion-dollar military aid package for Ukraine that includes 700 cruise missiles. Washington also sent a positive signal on a permanent US military base in Poland, while Russia is increasing military spending by 40%.
sources: delfi.lt, lrt.lt, tv3.lt, lrytas.lt, vz.lt, 15min.lt
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Politics
War in Ukraine: Kyiv attacked by rockets at dawn
Russia struck Kyiv with rockets at dawn on June 18, hitting several districts and damaging homes and infrastructure, Ukrainian officials said. The assault followed a run of heavy Russian drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities, while Kyiv has kept up strikes on Russian oil and industrial targets. Rescue crews were deployed in the capital as authorities assessed the damage and checked for casualties.
Why it matters
For Kyiv residents, dawn strikes raise the risk when people are still at home and slower to reach shelter. Damage to housing and urban infrastructure can disrupt power, transport and emergency services across a city of millions.
sources:delfi.lt
Politics
Russian forces launched more than 90 attacks on Sumy region
Ukrainian officials said on June 17 that Russian forces carried out more than 90 strikes across Sumy region in a day, wounding three people in six communities. The attacks came after separate June 12 strikes hit railway infrastructure in the border region and injured six people. By June 18, regional authorities were assessing damage and recovery needs as shelling kept hitting civilian sites and transport links.
Why it matters
For civilians in Sumy region, repeated strikes mean more injuries, disrupted travel and longer power and communications outages in border communities. When rail and road links are hit, evacuations slow and aid becomes harder to deliver to villages near the front line.
sources:delfi.lt
Politics
Moscow suffers large-scale Ukrainian drone attack
Overnight on June 17 and into June 18, Moscow and the surrounding region came under a Ukrainian drone attack, with the city’s mayor Sergei Sobyanin and Russia’s defence ministry reporting multiple drones were shot down. 15min said a fire broke out at the capital’s biggest oil refinery, about 15 km from the Kremlin, and Ukrainian military intelligence official Andriy Kovalenko said the primary processing unit was burning. The strike comes as Ukraine has stepped up attacks on Russian energy and military assets in recent weeks, while Moscow keeps up its own barrages on Ukrainian cities.
Why it matters
A hit on a major refinery near the Russian capital raises the risk of local fuel disruption and higher protection costs for Moscow’s energy infrastructure. For residents and businesses, it can mean fresh airspace restrictions, transport delays and more disruption to daily life.
sources:vz.lt
Politics
In Kyiv – danger: explosions heard, people ran to shelters
Kyiv came under air attack on June 18, 2026, with explosions heard across the city as residents rushed to shelters and the air force warned of incoming missiles and drones. Air defences were active overnight, and local authorities said several districts were hit or rattled by blasts. Public transport and power supply were briefly disrupted in parts of the capital while emergency crews assessed damage and checked for casualties.
Why it matters
Kyiv civilians were forced underground again during a working night, disrupting transport and putting strain on hospitals and rescue teams. Attacks like this also threaten power, communications and public transit in the capital, Ukraine's main administrative hub.
sources:tv3.lt
Politics
Russia returned 522 Ukrainian bodies
Ukraine received the bodies of 522 dead people from Russia on June 18, in a repatriation effort coordinated by Ukrainian agencies handling prisoners of war and the missing. The latest transfer follows a May 16 handover of 528 bodies and a June 5 exchange that brought back 186 Ukrainians from Russian captivity. Kyiv is now moving to identify the remains and line up further exchanges and repatriations with mediators and international organisations.
Why it matters
For Ukrainian families, the transfer can finally settle the fate of relatives and start the identification and burial process. It also feeds into the prisoner and missing-person accounting that shapes future exchange talks.
sources:delfi.lt
Sports
Portugal's national team coach defends Ronaldo: he must be on the pitch when goals are needed
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez on June 18 defended 40-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo against criticism over his place in the starting XI. He said the forward is still needed when the team needs goals, as Portugal prepares for key World Cup qualifiers this week. Martinez is also juggling Ronaldo's workload, with the captain now more often managed through substitutions than in his peak years.
Why it matters
Portugal's attacking blueprint now hinges on whether Ronaldo starts or is held back for later in the game. That matters to World Cup qualifying opponents too, because the decision changes Portugal's pressing pattern and the odds of a match being decided by one moment.
sources:lrt.lt
World
Summary
Donald Trump said today he signed a memorandum of understanding with Iran to end the war, and the White House said it took effect immediately. The text calls for an immediate and permanent halt to military operations, while Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Islamabad helped mediate the talks. Tehran had earlier said the final document was not ready, leaving the next step dependent on whether all parties formally lock in the deal. The International Atomic Energy Agency said today it is ready to help implement the U.S.-Iran peace agreement, although nuclear clauses and Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile remain unresolved. In historical context, an earlier draft pointed to reopening the Strait of Hormuz to shipping.
The Israeli army said yesterday that one of its soldiers was killed in southern Lebanon by a Hezbollah explosive drone. Israeli officials the same day said they were widening ground operations in the Beaufort Ridge and Wadi al Saluki areas, with no public timeline for ending them. Lebanon reported three dead over the past day in Israeli strikes, adding fresh casualties on the border.
In San Francisco, OpenAI chief Sam Altman said yesterday that artificial intelligence will change daily life on a scale not seen since electricity was adopted. He said the shift will come through broad deployment, with AI moving deeper into coding, customer service and back-office work. Taiwan’s top representative in Washington said today that Taipei wants the stalled $14 billion U.S. arms package moved quickly, while a separate $11 billion deal has also yet to advance. Apple said rising prices for AI-focused chips will lift production costs, and an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has already killed more than 200 people.
U.S. forces ended the blockade of Iranian ports as Washington and Tehran begin a 60-day negotiation period. The U.S. has already allowed at least 12 ships to pass, and President Donald Trump called the deal a U.S. victory. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, an Ebola outbreak has killed more than 200 people.
sources: 15min.lt, vz.lt, delfi.lt, tv3.lt, lrt.lt, lrytas.lt
Top stories
Technology
Altman: AI will transform life on a scale not seen since the adoption of electricity
In San Francisco on June 17, OpenAI chief Sam Altman said artificial intelligence will change daily life on a scale not seen since electricity was adopted. He framed the shift as one driven by broad deployment, with AI moving deeper into coding, customer service and back-office work. The comments are likely to fuel expectations of faster corporate spending on AI, while also sharpening the debate over jobs, data use and safety.
Why it matters
Tech firms and their customers are under pressure to roll out AI faster, as the productivity race moves from labs into offices and factories. That means more spending on compute, software and retraining, but also more risk for jobs that can be automated.
sources:lrt.lt
Politics
Taiwan expects a swift US weapons deal worth $14 billion
Taiwan's top representative in Washington said on June 18 that Taipei wants the $14 billion U.S. arms package moved quickly, even though it remains stuck after Donald Trump discussed it with Xi Jinping in May. Congress approved the package in January, and Washington has also authorized a separate $11 billion deal that has not yet advanced. The Taiwan side says it is lifting defense spending and still wants the weapons for deterrence as China keeps up military pressure around the island.
Why it matters
A delay leaves Taiwan with less certainty over air defense, missiles and coastal protection purchases it wants to lock in from the United States. It also feeds doubts among U.S. partners in the Indo-Pacific about how far Washington is prepared to go on Taiwan arms sales.
Politics
NATO under fire from Hegseth; not everyone passed Trump’s test, consequences in six months
In Brussels on June 18, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said NATO allies had leaned too long on American power and that the Pentagon will review U.S. troop deployments in Europe over the next six months. The warning came after Washington had already signalled it would not back a NATO member under attack as fully as before, forcing Europeans to look for ways to plug capability gaps. The clock is now running toward December, when the U.S. could trim forces or reshape support if European governments do not move faster on defence spending and readiness.
Why it matters
European militaries plan around the U.S. footprint, so any cut would hit air defence, logistics and deterrence on NATO’s eastern flank. For Lithuania and the Baltic states, the stakes are immediate: fewer American forces would widen the window in which a crisis could expose security gaps first.
sources:lrt.lt
Politics
Donald Trump and the Iranian president signed a peace agreement
Donald Trump and Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf signed an electronic agreement to end the war in the Middle East, a U.S. administration official said on June 15. The deal points to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, but Tehran had still not settled the nuclear clauses and wanted more talks. Further negotiations are expected in the coming days on Iran's enriched uranium stockpile, while Israel has said any final text must curb Tehran's nuclear and missile programmes.
Why it matters
The key market effect is the Strait of Hormuz clause, because that route carries a large share of global crude flows. If talks stall over uranium and sanctions, traders will keep pricing in fresh disruptions on every signal from Tehran or Washington.
Politics
Israeli army says it will continue operating in South Lebanon
The Israeli army said on June 17 that one of its soldiers was killed in southern Lebanon by a Hezbollah explosive drone. The same day, Israeli officials said they were widening ground operations in the Beaufort Ridge and Wadi al Saluki areas to remove what they called direct threats to border communities. The statement points to a widening campaign along the frontier, with no public timeline for an end to the operations.
Why it matters
People in southern Lebanon face fresh evacuation and strike risks in areas where fighting is now close to homes and roads. The longer the ground campaign runs, the harder it becomes to sustain ceasefire talks and restore civilian movement and border trade.
Politics
War in Iran: Trump signed a memorandum of understanding with Iran
Donald Trump said on June 18 he had signed a memorandum of understanding with Iran to end the war, and the White House said it took effect immediately. Pakistan's prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, said Islamabad helped mediate the talks, while the text read out to reporters calls for an immediate and permanent halt to military operations. Tehran had previously said the final document was still not ready, leaving the next step dependent on whether the other parties formally lock in the deal.
Why it matters
The biggest market effect is on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and the wider Gulf. If the deal holds, risk premia on oil, freight and marine insurance could ease, which would feed through to fuel prices across the region.
sources:delfi.lt