Leaders of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, alongside Duda and von der Leyen, symbolically synchronized their power networks with the European system at the Litexpo exhibition centre in the Lithuanian capital.
The shift marks the end of their reliance on Moscow-controlled infrastructure, a move hailed as a significant geopolitical milestone.
"The Baltic states are breaking away from hostile dependences once and for all. We turn our backs to the old, centralized system controlled from Moscow," Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said during the event.
He emphasized Poland’s crucial role in the transition, noting that the LitPol Link, a cross-border electricity connection between Poland and Lithuania, played a key part in the process.
Polish President Andrzej Duda described the decoupling as both "a moral imperative and a political necessity" for Central European nations, particularly in light of Russia’s resurgence in neo-imperial ambitions.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed this sentiment, stating: "No more reliance on Russia. No more external control. From this moment on, you are fully connected to Europe."
The synchronization of the Baltic grids with the continental European network occurred at exactly 13:05 local time, following their departure from the Russian-controlled BRELL system, which had linked them to Moscow’s electricity network for over 60 years.
The process, costing more than EUR 1.5 billion, was largely financed by the European Union.
(ał)
Source: IAR