The Baltic states – Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania – have successfully connected to the European electricity system via Finland, Sweden, and Poland after decades of relying on Russia for their electricity supply. This historic move signifies the end of their final ties to oil- and gas-rich Russia, following the collapse of the Soviet Union more than three decades ago. The disconnection from Russia also carries geopolitical and symbolic significance for the Baltic countries and the rest of Europe.
On Sunday, all remaining transmission lines between the Baltic states and Russia, Belarus, and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad were switched off, with Lithuania being the first followed by Latvia and then Estonia. This disconnection was part of a planned effort to create a new grid linking the Baltic states with the EU, including underwater cables in the Baltic Sea. The decision to disconnect was made in 2024, with the Baltic countries informing Moscow and Minsk to prevent any hostile reactions.
The move was celebrated with a ceremony in Vilnius attended by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, along with the presidents of Poland and the Baltic states. This achievement is particularly significant for the Baltic countries, all of which are NATO members and have had complicated relations with Russia since declaring independence in 1990. The disconnection from Russia comes amid strained relations due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
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