EU rushes to Lithuania’s aid in gas dispute
Anyone who has booked a holiday in Lithuania in Eastern Europe in recent days could unexpectedly find themselves affected by the current gas dispute between Russia and Belarus. While Russian gas has so far continued to arrive in Germany and Central Europe in full (for now), Lithuania increasingly seems to be caught between the millstones of Eastern European politics. Moscow and Minsk currently have differing views on the manner and volume of gas deliveries, and apparently cannot reach an agreement. Günther Oettinger, former Minister-President of Baden-Württemberg and now the EU’s Energy Commissioner, fears that Belarus deliberately wants to draw its neighbor Lithuania into the conflict, possibly to find allies in Europe.
EU rushes to Lithuania’s aid in gas dispute
Date: 30/09/2026
In an interview, Oettinger said that the EU and his department had sufficient indications to confirm the suspicion that Russia had supplied Belarus with its usual volume of gas. It was therefore strange that only 40% of the usual amount of gas was reaching Lithuania, Oettinger noted. The EU was now on alert and would visit Lithuania very soon to assess the situation on the ground, the German politician announced. If Lithuania, as a member state, had a problem with gas, then ultimately it affected the entire EU.
Lithuania and the EU can expect additional help from Ukraine. Ukraine’s Energy Minister, Yuriy Boyko, had already promised Oettinger that Ukraine could and would use its own gas to bridge a possible shortfall in Lithuania and Europe. Ukraine also supplies gas to Europe through its own transit pipelines and could, if necessary, temporarily increase the current volumes. At least it is reassuring for tourists and business travelers in Lithuania to know that no problems linked to a gas shortage have so far been reported by hotels in Vilnius or other cities.
Kai Rebmann
