Baltic Countries Achieve Energy Independence From Russia

A screen near the Energy Museum and Mindaugas Bridge indicates that on February 8 the Baltic States will disconnect from the Russian electricity grid to synchronise with Continental Europe, in Vilnius

VILNIUS, Lithuania — The Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are set to disconnect their electricity-grid connections to Russia and Belarus this weekend, marking a significant shift towards reliance on their European Union allies. The decision to sever ties with Russia holds geopolitical and symbolic importance, particularly in the wake of Russian President Vladimir Putin's actions in Ukraine.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda emphasized the significance of this move, describing it as a step towards ending reliance on the Russian and Belarusian energy systems. The Baltic states, all NATO members, have had strained relations with Russia since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1990, which worsened following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.