Vilnius conference examines regional defence and lessons from Ukraine

A two-day conference on regional defence strategies and lessons from the war in Ukraine opened in Vilnius on Monday, LRT reported, citing BNS.

The Defending Baltics 2026 conference, held at the National Gallery of Art, is focusing on strengthening European air defence, gaps in NATO’s military capabilities and the role of artificial intelligence and drone technology on the battlefield.

This year’s theme is “War above us: Lessons from Ukraine in airspace, space, strike capabilities and continuity of state operations”. Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas will open the conference. European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius is due to share his views on a common European defence shield.

“Ukraine teaches us that to defend the Baltic region and all of Europe, we must be able to produce at scale, move quickly, innovate and be resilient,” Kubilius said in a statement.

The programme includes presentations by Ukrainian Defence Ministry and military practitioners on threats posed by Russia, operational adaptation and hybrid warfare tactics. Participants will also discuss societal resilience, Europe’s capacity to increase weapons production, nuclear deterrence and military intelligence.

Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys said insights from Ukrainian specialists would help clarify what good preparedness looks like and what practical measures are needed before a crisis begins.

Participants include Lithuanian Army Defence Staff chief Flotilla Admiral Giedrius Premeneckas, Land Forces commander Brigadier General Nerijus Stankevičius and international experts from the Institute for the Study of War, the Royal United Services Institute, the European Space Agency and other institutions.