Event 1060

{
  "attack_type": "Defense Prep",
  "category": "Kinetic",
  "confidence": "High",
  "countries": [
    "Estonia",
    "Latvia",
    "Lithuania",
    "Poland",
    "Russia",
    "Belarus"
  ],
  "country": "Estonia",
  "description": "The prime ministers of Estonia, Latvia, Poland, and the president of Lithuania sent an open letter to EU leaders on 20 June 2025 calling for stronger support for defense initiatives along the EU's eastern border. They emphasized the growing threat from Russia and Belarus via destabilizing actions, sabotage, and weaponization of migrants. The letter calls on the EU to recognize and back the Baltic Defence Line and Eastern Shield initiatives as common European interest projects, with broad support from EU instruments. These initiatives focus on building layered defensive infrastructure along the eastern border. Poland's Eastern Shield project began construction in late 2024 with a substantial budget, while Estonia has started building the Baltic Defence Line as of June 2025. The leaders highlighted their countries’ commitment to investing more than 5% of GDP on defense and emphasized cooperation within the EU and NATO to counter potential incursions.",
  "event_time_utc": "2025-06-20T16:58:43Z",
  "evidence": [
    "The prime ministers of Estonia, Latvia and Poland and the president of Lithuania have sent an open letter to EU leaders calling for stronger support for defence initiatives on the EU’s eastern border.",
    "The letter was signed by Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal, Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.",
    "In the letter, dated 20 June, the four leaders emphasise the growing threat from Russia and Belarus, particularly through their destabilising actions, sabotage, and use of migrants as a tool to exert pressure.",
    "\"Russia is testing our deterrence and resilience through destabilising and sabotage activities, particularly along the eastern borders of the EU. We face additional pressure from the weaponisation of migrants by Russia and Belarus.\"",
    "The letter’s signatories have called on the EU to recognise the Baltic Defence Line and Eastern Shield initiatives as projects of common European interest and to support them using all available EU instruments.",
    "Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland are already actively investing in strengthening their defence capabilities and are prepared to spend more than 5% of GDP on defence.",
    "The Eastern Shield and Baltic Defence Line initiatives aim to develop layered defensive measures along the EU’s eastern border.",
    "Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that construction of the Eastern Shield fortification system along its borders with Russia and Belarus had begun in late 2024.",
    "The Estonian Defence Forces, in cooperation with the Centre for Defence Investment (RKIK), had begun building the Baltic Defence Line on the country's south-eastern border as of 20 June 2025."
  ],
  "extra": {
    "extra": {
      "extra": {
        "evidence": [
          "The prime ministers of Estonia, Latvia and Poland and the president of Lithuania have sent an open letter to EU leaders calling for stronger support for defence initiatives on the EU’s eastern border.",
          "The letter was signed by Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal, Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.",
          "In the letter, dated 20 June, the four leaders emphasise the growing threat from Russia and Belarus, particularly through their destabilising actions, sabotage, and use of migrants as a tool to exert pressure.",
          "\"Russia is testing our deterrence and resilience through destabilising and sabotage activities, particularly along the eastern borders of the EU. We face additional pressure from the weaponisation of migrants by Russia and Belarus.\"",
          "The letter’s signatories have called on the EU to recognise the Baltic Defence Line and Eastern Shield initiatives as projects of common European interest and to support them using all available EU instruments.",
          "Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland are already actively investing in strengthening their defence capabilities and are prepared to spend more than 5% of GDP on defence.",
          "The Eastern Shield and Baltic Defence Line initiatives aim to develop layered defensive measures along the EU’s eastern border.",
          "Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that construction of the Eastern Shield fortification system along its borders with Russia and Belarus had begun in late 2024.",
          "The Estonian Defence Forces, in cooperation with the Centre for Defence Investment (RKIK), had begun building the Baltic Defence Line on the country's south-eastern border as of 20 June 2025."
        ]
      }
    }
  },
  "location_text": "Baltic States eastern borders",
  "media_assets": [
    {
      "description": "Screenshot capture",
      "type": "screenshot",
      "url": "/media/event_1060_1764375042_fd52868a.jpg"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "v1",
  "screenshot_count": 1.0,
  "url": "https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/06/20/7518035/"
}

{
  "source": "admin_quick",
  "tags": [],
  "url": "https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/06/20/7518035/"
}