Relationship dossier
Lithuania
Russia
Relationship assessment
Lithuania–Russia relations are defined by sustained security confrontation and opposing positions over Ukraine.
Lithuania toward Russia
-75Lithuania has supported sanctions against Russia and military and other assistance to Ukraine. It has expelled Russian diplomats in response to security concerns and taken restrictive measures affecting Russian cross-border activity, including temporary closure of border crossings.
Russia toward Lithuania
-80Russia has pursued a hostile policy toward Lithuania amid its broader confrontation with NATO and countries supporting Ukraine. Russian energy supplies to Lithuania were halted in 2022, and Moscow has used confrontational rhetoric and pressure over issues including EU sanctions affecting Kaliningrad transit.
Overall relationship
-80The relationship is structurally adversarial, driven by Lithuania’s strong opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its support for sanctions and assistance to Ukraine, alongside Russia’s hostile posture and pressure over security and transit issues. Declining energy ties and recurring diplomatic and border tensions reinforce the confrontation.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Lithuania–Russia relations are marked by sustained confrontation, particularly over Russia’s war against Ukraine, sanctions, security, and Kaliningrad transit. Lithuania has supported sanctions and assistance for Ukraine and taken measures against Russian diplomatic and cross-border activity. Russia has maintained a confrontational posture toward Lithuania amid broader pressure on countries supporting Ukraine, while energy ties have sharply contracted.
Areas of tension
- Russia’s war against Ukraine and Lithuania’s support for sanctions and assistance to Ukraine
- Security concerns, including hostile cyber and influence activity
- EU sanctions and transit to and from Kaliningrad
- Diplomatic expulsions and restrictions on Russian cross-border activity
Key developments
Lithuania halted imports of Russian pipeline gas, following the suspension of Russian gas supplies.
Lithuania expelled Russian diplomats amid heightened security concerns following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Lithuania restricted the transit of goods subject to EU sanctions to Kaliningrad, prompting a dispute with Russia.
Major uncertainties
- The full extent of Russian state involvement in hostile cyber and influence activity targeting Lithuania is not always publicly clear.
- The future scope of cross-border and Kaliningrad transit arrangements remains uncertain.