Sinkevičius urges allies to ask Zelensky to strike more Russian data centres

Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius said Ukraine’s allies should ask President Volodymyr Zelensky to strike more data centres in Russia, LRT reported, citing his remarks at the Warsaw Security Forum on Monday.

Asked what Lithuania, Poland and other allies should do to protect their elections from interference, Sinkevičius said: “I think we should ask Mr Zelensky to strike more data centres in Russia, and that might help.”

Speaking in a discussion on European security challenges, alongside Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, Sinkevičius said Europe needed greater strength, energy and unity to have a place in decision-making. Political commitments should be turned into action more quickly, and defence investment should deliver new military capabilities, he said.

He said European defence industries were not yet meeting production needs and called for closer cooperation, learning from Ukraine’s experience and acquiring its expertise. Joint efforts in intelligence-sharing, procurement, production and exercises would make countries safer, he said. Sinkevičius also described NATO as a central pillar of transatlantic security and said greater European responsibility for its own security would make the alliance more balanced and capable.

Lithuania’s priorities include air defence, including counter-drone measures, protecting critical infrastructure on land and in the Baltic Sea, countering hybrid threats and improving military mobility, he said.

At a bilateral meeting, Sinkevičius and Store discussed cooperation and regional and European security. They agreed to coordinate their work as Lithuania prepares to chair the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2027 and Norway prepares to chair the Nordic-Baltic Eight grouping next year. Sinkevičius said the two roles offered a unique opportunity to strengthen decisions on regional security. Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas also attended the forum, according to BNS.