Baltic States Warn of Russian Attack Risk as New EU Sanctions Stall Over Visas and Fish Fingers

Lithuania and Latvia have issued fresh warnings about the growing risk of Russian sabotage and potential attacks on critical infrastructure, as a new package of European Union sanctions against Russia has become stalled in negotiations. The Baltic states — which share borders with Russia and its ally Belarus and have been among the most vocal advocates for a tough European stance toward Moscow — say the threat of deliberate disruption to energy, communications, and transport infrastructure is increasing. Meanwhile, the latest EU sanctions package has hit an unexpected deadlock, with disagreements among member states over provisions related to visas and fish products blocking progress. The sanctions dispute highlights the difficulty of maintaining unity among the EU's 27 member states on Russia policy, even as frontline countries like Lithuania and Latvia press for stronger action. The Baltic states joined the EU and NATO in 2004 and have long argued that the alliance must take the Russian threat more seriously, a position that gained broader European support following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.