Lithuanian president says Russia will fail to destabilise West

VILNIUS - President Gitanas Nauseda said on Wednesday Russia would fail to destabilise the West because Moscow remained isolated, as he expressed solidarity with Germany over a suspected Russian hybrid attack in Leipzig.

"We see from the Russian side that they view this as a further escalation of relations between both sides. It was important for us to express our solidarity, to show that we must all stand together against this scourge from the East," the head of state told reporters on Wednesday.

"They closely follow what is happening in democratic societies, the political cycles, and they strike where it hurts, where it is sensitive. But they will not succeed because we are all together. They are alone, isolated and, I hope, will remain isolated, while the civilised democratic world stays together, supporting each other; this is our strength and invincibility," Nauseda emphasised.

Germany on Tuesday accused Russia of attempting a hybrid attack at Leipzig airport last month using an explosives-laden drone and announced diplomatic countermeasures. Leaders from NATO, the European Union and Lithuania have expressed solidarity with Berlin.

The Presidency also reported that Nauseda maintains close contact with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.