Sinkevičius urges allies to ask Zelensky to strike more Russian data centres
Monday 12th October 2026 on 13:30 in
Lithuania
Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius said Monday that Ukraine’s allies should ask President Volodymyr Zelensky to strike more data centres in Russia, LRT reported.
Asked at the Warsaw Security Forum what Lithuania, Poland and other allies should do to protect their elections from interference, Sinkevičius said such strikes might help.
Speaking in a discussion on European security challenges during global change, alongside Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Sinkevičius said Europe must build greater strength, energy and unity to secure a place in decision-making. Political commitments should be put into action faster, he said, and investment in defence should deliver new capabilities.
Strategies and plans are necessary, but they do not deter Russia, Sinkevičius said. He added that European defence industries were not yet meeting production needs and called for closer cooperation, learning from Ukraine’s experience and using its expertise. Sharing information, joint procurement and production, and joint exercises would make countries safer, he said.
Sinkevičius described NATO as the central pillar of transatlantic security, saying greater European responsibility for its own security would make the alliance more balanced and capable. Lithuania’s priorities include air defence and counter-drone measures, protecting critical infrastructure on land and in the Baltic Sea, countering hybrid threats and improving military mobility.
At a bilateral meeting, Sinkevičius and Støre discussed cooperation and regional and European security. Sinkevičius said Lithuania valued Norway’s contribution to the security of NATO’s eastern flank and their partnership in formats such as the Nordic-Baltic Eight.
Lithuania will hold the EU Council presidency in the first half of 2027, while Norway is due to take over the Nordic-Baltic Eight presidency next year. The prime ministers agreed to coordinate their work, describing the timing as a unique opportunity to strengthen decisions on regional security. Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas is also attending the Warsaw forum, BNS reported.