A Russian military helicopter from the Baltic Fleet illegally entered Polish airspace over the Baltic Sea last night, the Polish Armed Forces announced today in a post on the social platform "Ex", quoted by Reuters. BTA reported.
"The nature of the incident suggests that Russia is testing the readiness of our air defense systems," the Polish army wrote.
Against this background, Lithuania announced this week that it is joining the Scandinavian countries of Sweden, Norway and Finland in an initiative to purchase armored combat vehicles, that it is supplying Ukraine with motor vehicles and generators, and that the Belarusian community on Lithuanian territory is under attack from Belarus and Russia, Reuters, Ukrinform and the website of the Lithuanian Radio and Television (LRT) reported.
In addition, the mayor of the capital Vilnius - Valdas Benkunskas, presented an evacuation plan in the event of a Russian invasion, Agence France-Presse reported. The steps to deter a potential threat come amid fears in the Baltic state that it could be the next target of Russian military aggression, AFP reported.
Lithuanian leaders expressed skepticism on Wednesday about a Russian peace proposal in Ukraine that would "freeze" the map of Ukraine as currently divided by the front line, LRT reported. Prime Minister Paluckas doubted Kiev would accept Moscow's terms, while President Gitanas Nauseda called the Kremlin's proposal a "trap."
"We find the proposal very suspicious," Paluckas was quoted as saying on Wednesday by LRT. "The Ukrainian president (Volodymyr Zelensky) has already expressed doubts. I believe that the Ukrainian people will not agree to such conditions either“, Paluckas said, quoted by BTA.
The Lithuanian prime minister expressed skepticism that accepting such a proposal would stop Russia. He added that under favorable circumstances, it could even encourage the Kremlin to seize more territory. “Lithuania's position will not differ from that of Ukraine. I am not sure whether the Ukrainians can make the decision to give up their territory“, Paluckas said.