One of the main reasons that forced Russia to go for economic sanctions against Lithuania is its support to Ukraine in the course of the European integration on the eve of the Vilnius Summit.

This was written in an article for ZN.UA by an expert on international relations Serhiy Solodkiy, Deputy Director of the World Policy Institute.

"On the list of all reasons that forced Russia to go to extremes in foreign policy, to the fore, of course, is the political activity of Lithuania in the region. One of the priorities of Vilnius during the Presidency of the European Union – is to sign an Association Agreement with Ukraine. Vilnius is aware that the Summit on November 28-29 – is an irreversible process, this event is comparable in importance to the Bialowieza agreement. If Bialowieza fixed the death of the USSR only legally, the Vilnius will bring to an end the Soviet legacy in fact. From this point of view the distress of Russia is explainable, whose president has repeatedly lamented the greatest geopolitical catastrophe - the collapse of the Soviet Union", - writes Sergey Solodkiy.

"Russia has long been unable to compete with the global heavyweights (small dirty trick with Edward Snowden or kidding on the Syrian issue being presented as a serious policy for the protection of international law - does not count), and therefore comes off in full to those who seem to be unable to fight back - noted the expert. - But if in the case of Armenia, Moldova and Ukraine, the Russian policy is not receiving a proper rebuff, in the Lithuanian question Kremlin risks to be out in reckoning."

Material has been prepared by the Centre of Geopolitical Studies with reference to the article from “UKRnews24” of 13 10 2013

For effective complex defence of Latvia, the establishment of a permanent division of the National Armed Forces has started in Latgale, reported the official website of the Ministry of Defence.

On 13 January a concert "Together to the victory" was held in Lithuania, where the audience decided to support Ukraine's defence and donated 110 thousand Euros.

Alexander Lukashenko on 9 January signed a decree № 8 "On the establishment of visa-free entry and exit of foreign nationals." The document establishes visa-free entry to Belarus for a period not exceeding 5 days at the entrance through the checkpoint "National Airport Minsk" for citizens of 80 countries, - reported the press service of the President of Belarus.