#Gitanas Nauseda

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Gitanas Nausėda

[allthegeopolitics]

Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nauseda has declared victory in the final round of the Baltic nation’s presidential election, as partial results showed him far ahead in the two-way race against Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte. Ballots from nearly 90 percent of polling stations on Sunday showed Nauseda, 60, winning roughly three-quarters of the vote, followed by Simonyte, 49, from the ruling centre-right Homeland Union party. Simonyte conceded defeat in comments to reporters and congratulated Nauseda.

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[awesome-casuallyfamouscollector]

During his two-day visit, the German minister will hold talks with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte and Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas. Those talks are scheduled for Tuesday afternoon in Vilnius(..)

[unhonestlymirror]

[beardedmrbean]

RIGA - The Baltic presidents will this week mark the 35th anniversary of the Baltic Way, as Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics' advisor Martins Dregeris informed LETA.

On Friday, August 23 Rinkevics will meet with Estonian President Alar Karis at the Ungurini-Lilli border crossing point on the Latvia-Estonia border to mark the 35th anniversary of the Baltic Way. In the afternoon, Rinkevics and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda will attend a ceremony dedicated to the 35th anniversary of the Baltic Way in Pasvalys, Lithuania.

Rinkevics says that 35 years ago 2 million Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians joined hands to oppose the Soviet occupation regime. A human chain spanning more than 600 kilometers connected Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius. Standing united against injustice, oppression and violence, Lithuanians, Latvians and Estonians began their shared journey to restoring independence.

"The Baltic Way was the beginning of our return to the democratic world. The Baltic Way demonstrated that our power lies within our unity and our desire for freedom. The cohesion of the people of the three Baltic States and their deep-seated faith in freedom was an important driving force not only in the restoration of the sovereignty of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, but also the destruction of communist regimes in Europe," said Rinkevics.

For many, the Baltic Way was a deeply personal and emotional event - an experience that stays with one forever, Rinkevics pointed out. Therefore, it is crucial to maintain the memories and feelings surrounding the shared road to freedom of the Baltics and pass it on to the next generations. August 23 is a day to remind ourselves and the world about the power of national unity and determination in the fight for independence and freedom, said Rinkevics.

The presidents of Latvia and Estonia will meet at the Ungurnņi-Lilli border crossing point on the Latvia-Estonia border where a monument to the Baltic Way has been erected. The presidents will give addresses, followed by informal discussions.

In the afternoon, Rinkevics will meet with the Lithuanian president in Pasvalys, Lithuania, and a joint press conference will be held after the meeting.

The Baltic Way was the most vivid demonstration of the unity of the Baltic peoples in fighting for the restoration of the statehood of the Baltic States 35 years ago, said Dregeris. Approximately 2 million people joined hands to draw international attention to the illegal incorporation of the Baltic States into the USSR and violations of international law.

[the-jam-to-the-unicorn]

The political husband Gitanas Nauseda is reelected! 🥳🥳🥳

[mariacallous]

Hungary's Orban blocks aid for Ukraine, says he can still halt EU accession

BRUSSELS, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban vetoed a big European Union aid package for Kyiv on Friday, and said he could still halt Ukraine's accession after EU leaders approved the start of lengthy membership talks.

Leaders of all 27 EU states except Hungary agreed at a summit on Thursday to start accession talks with Ukraine despite Russia's invasion of its neighbour, bypassing Orban's grievances by getting him to leave the room.

But they could not overcome resistance from Orban to a revamp of the EU budget to channel 50 billion euros ($55 billion) to Ukraine and provide more cash for other tasks such as managing migration.

EU leaders said they would continue to help Kyiv. If no deal is found to do so within the EU budget, they will find workarounds, possibly with bilateral aid, they said.

The Kremlin praised the stance taken by Orban, who maintains close ties to Russia, but said the EU decision to open accession talks with Kyiv was politicised and could destabilise the bloc.

Orban, who has a history of trying to use disagreements with other EU leaders for his electoral benefit, told state radio he had blocked the aid package - part of a broader multi-year EU budget plan - to ensure Budapest gets funds from the EU budget that are frozen over concerns about the rule of law in Hungary.

"It is a great opportunity for Hungary to make it clear that it must get what it is entitled to. Not half of it, or one-fourth," he said.

The European Commission, the EU executive, restored Hungary's access to 10.2 billion euros of frozen funds on Wednesday after Budapest passed laws addressing some of the EU's concerns, but funds worth billions of euros remain frozen.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy hailed the approval of membership talks as a victory for Ukraine and Europe.

Kyiv is reliant on foreign assistance as Russia's war in Ukraine rages on, and U.S. President Joe Biden has so far been unable to get a $60 billion package for Kyiv through Congress.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said the decision to start accession talks made him "proud to be European" but was "only the first page of a very long, long process".

'BAD DECISION'?

Orban said Hungary could still block the talks at any time.

"This is a bad decision," he said. "We can halt this process later on, and if needed we will pull the brakes."

The EU leaders ended talks on the financial package in the early hours of Friday. All except Orban agreed to provide Ukraine with 50 billion euros over four years, but his veto blocked the funds because the decision requires unanimity.

"I can assure you, Ukraine will not be left without support, there are different ways to do this," Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said, suggesting that a solution could be found by January, when an extraordinary summit would be held.

The best legal form for providing aid outside the EU budget is yet to be determined, but the European Commission could coordinate the collection of grants promised under the agreement and pass it on to Kyiv.

If the money were to be provided as loans, EU governments would probably need to provide guarantees for their part of the borrowing, a more cumbersome and costly process that might have to be repeated each year as new national budgets are passed.

Ukraine is unlikely to join the EU for many years, but the decision at the Brussels summit took it a step closer to its long-term strategic goal of anchoring itself in the West and leaving Russia's orbit.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz played a big role in getting Orban to leave the room to clear the way for a decision, diplomats and officials said.

EU leaders reconvened on Friday to discuss other topics including the Israel-Hamas war.

[limpapa16]

Remembered to post hehe haha hoho

Live love laugh gitanas nauseda

[ukrainenews]

Daily Wrap Up January 10-11, 2023

Under the cut:

Brokering a deal on a safe zone around Ukraine’s Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is getting harder because of military involvement in talks, the head of the U.N nuclear watchdog said on Wednesday. The Soviet-era plant, Europe’s largest, was captured by Russian forces in March, soon after their invasion of Ukraine. It has repeatedly come under fire in recent months, raising fears of a nuclear disaster, Reuters reports.

Fighting is still raging in Soledar, a salt mine town in eastern Ukraine, despite Russian claims that it has gained control of the region. Should Russian troops indeed capture the town, it would mark Moscow’s first gain in the Donbas for months – potentially offering President Vladimir Putin some welcome news after a string of defeats on the battlefield since last summer. The significance of Soledar in military terms is minimal. However, its capture would allow Russian forces, and especially the Wagner mercenary group, to turn their focus on nearby Bakhmut, which has been a target since the summer.

Polish President Andrzej Duda has announced the delivery of a company of modern German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. Duda made the announcement at a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky and Lithuanian counterpart Gitanas Nauseda in Lviv on Jan. 11 as part of the “Lublin Triangle” format, the regional partnership established by the three in July 2020.

Russia’s defense minister has appointed Valery Gerasimov as commander of the Joint Group of Forces leading the country's so-called “special military operation” in Ukraine. Gerasimov replaces Sergei Surovikin, who had been appointed to the role on Oct. 8, 2022, and was in charge of Russian forces during their retreat from large swaths of Ukraine’s Kherson region. Surovikin will now serve as a deputy commander, according to a statement from the Russian Defense Ministry.

“Brokering a deal on a safe zone around Ukraine’s Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is getting harder because of military involvement in talks, the head of the U.N nuclear watchdog said on Wednesday.

The Soviet-era plant, Europe’s largest, was captured by Russian forces in March, soon after their invasion of Ukraine. It has repeatedly come under fire in recent months, raising fears of a nuclear disaster, Reuters reports.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director general Rafael Grossi said in an interview with Italian public television RAI:

I don’t believe that (an agreement) is impossible, but it is not an easy negotiation … It has become … a longer and more difficult (negotiating) table.

Grossi added the talks have become more complex as they involve not just diplomats, but military officers as well.

He said:

They are playing with fire. A nuclear accident is in nobody’s interest, not even the Russians.”-via The Guardian

~

“Fighting is still raging in Soledar, a salt mine town in eastern Ukraine, despite Russian claims that it has gained control of the region.

Should Russian troops indeed capture the town, it would mark Moscow’s first gain in the Donbas for months – potentially offering President Vladimir Putin some welcome news after a string of defeats on the battlefield since last summer.

The significance of Soledar in military terms is minimal. However, its capture would allow Russian forces, and especially the Wagner mercenary group, to turn their focus on nearby Bakhmut, which has been a target since the summer.

The town of Soledar in Donetsk has been a target for Russian forces since last May. With a pre-war population of about 10,000, it has little strategic value in itself, but is a waypoint in the Russians’ attritional slog westwards. Moscow has struggled for months to attack Bakhmut from the east, but were it to capture Soledar, Moscow would at least be able to approach the city from a different path.

The Russian armed forces have had nothing to celebrate since the beginning of July, and have had to retreat in both Kharkiv to the north and Kherson in southern Ukraine.

The capture of Soledar, despite its now-ruined state, would therefore be rare progress. But it would be symbolic rather than substantive. The Institute for the Study of War said control of Soledar “will not necessarily allow Russian forces to exert control over critical Ukrainian ground lines of communication into Bakhmut,” the larger prize.

“Even taking the most generous Russian claims at face value, the capture of Soledar would not portend an immediate encirclement of Bakhmut,” the think tank added.

But Soledar is of outsize significance to one man: oligarch and Wagner mercenary group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin. His Wagner fighters, many of them former prison inmates, have taken heavy casualties with one wave after another of ground assaults across what has become a battlefield of trenches and mud reminiscent of World War I. After months in which the Russian Ministry of Defense has delivered nothing but retreat, Prigozhin is keen to show that his men deliver.”-via CNN

~

“Polish President Andrzej Duda has announced the delivery of a company of modern German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.

Duda made the announcement at a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky and Lithuanian counterpart Gitanas Nauseda in Lviv on Jan. 11 as part of the “Lublin Triangle” format, the regional partnership established by the three in July 2020.

“A company of Leopard tanks will be provided as part of the coalition," Duda said at the press conference. A tank company generally consists of ten to a dozen tanks.

It is not clear which countries Duda had in mind with the term "international coalition." The lack of broader coordination among European partners has been consistently presented by Germany as the reason for not taking the lead with delivering Leopards.

Other European nations had previously signaled their readiness to provide the tanks, but also on condition of coordinated action between European states. On Jan. 6, Finland announced that it would be ready to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine "if Europe starts giving" them.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for U.K Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told media that Defense Secretary Ben Wallace had been given instructions by Sunak to move “further and faster with our support for Ukraine including the provision of tanks”, as reported by the Financial Times.

The only main battle tank in service in the British army is the Challenger 2, manufactured in the U.K. since 1998, of which 227 are currently in service.

On Jan 10, Politico reported that France was putting increasing pressure on Berlin to send Leopard tanks to Ukraine ahead of a Franco-German summit on Jan. 22. Poland also exerted pressure on Germany by publicly calling for a broad coalition among Western allies to hand over Leopards.

Poland currently operates around 249 Leopard 2 tanks. These vehicles were aquired over the 2000s as a replacement for the country's Soviet-era t-72 tanks, of which over 230 have already been sent to Ukraine.

At the Lublin Triangle meeting in Lviv, the three leaders discussed support for Ukraine against Russian aggression, as well as questions of Ukraine's EU and NATO integration.

As part of Lithuanian 40 million euro military aid commitment for Ukraine over 2023, Naseda announced the delivery of more air defense systems, though the exact model was not specified.

After months of negotiations, Germany announced on Jan. 5 that it would provide Ukraine with Marder infantry fighting vehicles. The United States jointly announced it would give Ukraine 50 Bradley fighting vehicles on the same day. France said it would provide light tanks.”-via Kyiv Independent

~

“Russia’s defense minister has appointed Valery Gerasimov as commander of the Joint Group of Forces leading the country's so-called “special military operation” in Ukraine.

Gerasimov replaces Sergei Surovikin, who had been appointed to the role on Oct. 8, 2022, and was in charge of Russian forces during their retreat from large swaths of Ukraine’s Kherson region. Surovikin will now serve as a deputy commander, according to a statement from the Russian Defense Ministry.

“On 11 January 2023, Russian Defence Minister General of the Army Sergei Shoigu assigns new leadership of special military operation,” the ministry said Wednesday on its official Telegram channel.

“Chief of General Staff General of the Army Valery Gerasimov has been assigned the commander of the Joint Group of Forces,” it said.

“The deputy commanders are: the Commander-in-Chief of Aerospace Forces General of the Army Sergei Surovikin, the Commander-in-Chief of the Army General of the Army Oleg Salyukov, as well as the Deputy Chief of General Staff of Russian Armed Forces Colonel General Aleksey Kim,” it added.

The ministry said that the changes were necessary because of “the amplified range of tasks, the necessity of closer cooperation between services and branches of the Armed Forces, as well as of improving the quality of all types of maintenance and efficiency of commanding the groups of forces.””-via CNN

[libertariantaoist]

News Roundup 7/7/2023 | The Libertarian Institute

Here is your daily roundup of today's news:

News Roundup 7/7/2023

by Kyle Anzalone

US News

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, particularly in the GOP, are pushing back against the renewal of a law authorizing a tool used by US spy agencies, in the post 9/11 era, to conduct warrantless surveillance on foreign targets and Americans with whom they may be interacting. The Institute

Russia

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov told Financial Times in an interview published Wednesday that his country serves as an ideal “testing ground” for Western weaponry. AWC

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Wednesday that its inspectors have seen no sign of explosives at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in Ukraine despite claims from Kyiv that Russia had planted bombs. AWC

A group of former senior US officials has held talks with influential Russians, including Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in an effort to lay the groundwork for negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, NBC News reported on Thursday. AWC

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday that not many members of Russia’s Wagner Group followed their exiled leader to Belarus. AWC

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said Wednesday that Ukraine will receive “a lot” from NATO at the summit his country is hosting next week from July 11-12. AWC

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said Thursday that Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin was now in Russia, raising questions about the deal between Moscow and the mercenary leader that ended his short-lived mutiny. AWC

The Associated Press reported Thursday that the Biden administration has decided to arm Ukraine with cluster bombs and will announce the munitions as part of a new $800 million arms package. AWC 

Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, said Thursday that the threat to the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) is subsiding. AWC

China

The Chinese Defense Ministry on Wednesday said the US was turning Taiwan into a “powder keg” in a warning over the Biden administration approving new arms deals for Taiwan worth $440 million. AWC

The US wants to turn India into a center for resupplying and maintenance of naval vessels in South Asia as part of its military buildup against China in the region, Nikkei Asia reported Thursday. AWC

Syria

The Pentagon released a video of a Russian fighter jet flying near an American drone above Syria. Moscow and Washington have accused each other of conducting unsafe aerial operations. The Institute

According to neoconservative columnist Josh Rogin – one of Bill Kristol’s protégés – Biden told these regime change advocates that, among other things, Assad must go. The Institute

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a press release on Thursday that it was involved in 37 operations against ISIS in Iraq and Syria during the month of June. AWC

Read More

[dadsinsuits]

Gitanas Nausėda

[ifreakingloveroyals]

Through the Years → Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands (1,303/∞)

17 April 2023 | King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands welcomes Lithuania's president Gitanas Nauseda prior to their meeting at Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague. (Photo by Patrick van Katwijk/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)

[inprimalinie]

Aproximativ o mie de militari americani vor fi staționați în Lituania, în apropierea graniței cu Belarus

Președintele lituanian Gitanas Nauseda a declarat că armata lituaniană intenționează să desfășoare aproximativ 1.000 de soldați americani pe terenul central de antrenament din Pabrada, la 15 km de granița cu Belarus, transmite Interfax. Georgiana ArseneÎn curând, infrastructura reînnoită din Pabrade poate fi oferită și militarilor americani, a remarcat Nauseda în timpul vizitei sale la terenul…

[laus-deo]

Gänswein asume el cargo de Nuncio para los países bálticos

El arzobispo Georg Gänswein ha asumido oficialmente su cargo como Nuncio del Papa en Lutania. El prelado alemán entregó sus cartas credenciales como nuncio apostólico para Estonia, Letonia y Lituania al presidente lituano, Gitanas Nauseda, según informó la página web de la presidencia. Leer más… »

[unhonestlymirror]

“The people of Lithuania are waiting for you”: President Gitanas Nauseda congratulated Ukrainians on the Day of Dignity and Freedom.

He published a video of his performance in English with Ukrainian subtitles on the social network X.

The caption states that the Revolution of Dignity on the Maidan took place 10 years ago: “United to defend their European choice, in their quest for justice, freedom and democracy, Ukrainians have proven to be an unstoppable force. Despite brutal war from Russia, Ukraine is increasingly moving closer to Europe. The future of Ukraine is in 🇪🇺!"

“The start of accession negotiations in December is another milestone that we all hope for. The people of Lithuania will be waiting for you. We will support you. And we will do everything to help you join the European Union and NATO. Glory to Ukraine!” said Nausėda.

[beardedmrbean]

VILNIUS - Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda is going to Moldova on Tuesday where he and the leaders of the other Baltic states will express support for Moldova's EU membership.

A Seimas delegation is also visiting Moldova this week for the same purpose.

Nauseda and his Latvian and Estonian counterparts will participate in the events marking Moldova's Independence Day and will meet with the country's President Maja Sandu, the presidential office said on Monday.

The Baltic presidents are traveling to Moldova to express their support for the country's EU integration as Moldova is set to hold a referendum on EU membership on October 20.

The Seimas delegation will participate in the Independence Day celebrations, meet with representatives of Moldovan regional authorities and civil society, and Ion Babici, chair the Moldovan parliament's friendship group with Lithuania.

Lithuanian lawmakers will share Lithuania's success story in joining the EU and 20 years of experience as an EU member state.

"Russia's hybrid attacks are intensifying, antagonizing and intimidating the public, raising tensions between ethnic groups and spreading propaganda. Only through joint efforts and sharing our experience will we help the Republic of Moldova to maintain its chosen course and become a full member of the European family", MP Andrius Mazuronis, one of the members of the Lithuanian delegation, said.

Moldova has recently made progress towards EU membership. After Moldova was granted candidate status in 2022, EU countries started negotiations on Moldova's and Ukraine's accession to the block earlier this summer.

The two countries applied for EU membership following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.