The Main Issues in Lithuanian-Russian Relations from 1991 to 2024

Abstract

Goal – A synthetic presentation of the main issues in Lithuanian-Russian relations from 1991 to 2024. Research methodology – The study was conducted through an analysis primarily of Lithuanian sources and relevant literature, with particular emphasis placed on presenting Lithuania’s perspective in its relations with Russia. Score/results – After the collapse of the USSR, Lithuania, similarly to the other Baltic states, did not join the Commonwealth of Independent States. The Lithuanian authorities chose to pursue integration with Euro-Atlantic structures in their foreign policy. Russia had long opposed Lithuania’s NATO membership, in particular. The main problem in Russian-Lithuanian relations in the early 1990s regarded the presence of Russian military troops on Lithuanian territory. The soldiers were not withdrawn until the end of August 1993. Russia also sought to secure easier transit to the Kaliningrad Oblast, a matter resolved only under pressure from the European Union, which Lithuania joined in 2004. That same year, Lithuania also became a NATO member. Once Lithuania became part of the global West, the country began efforts to achieve economic independence from Russia. After 2014 and then after 2022, Lithuania took a pro-Ukrainian stance and condemned Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Originality/value –The article demonstrates that the motives behind Lithuania’s policy toward Russia stemmed not only from its Soviet legacy but also from the directions of Lithuanian foreign policy and Russia’s neo-imperial ambitions.