Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania rejected Russia's accusations that they allowed Ukraine to use their airspace for drone strikes
Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have issued a joint statement rejecting Moscow’s accusations that they allowed their airspace to be used for Ukrainian strikes on Russia.
According to the Baltic foreign ministers, the claims are part of a “completely baseless” disinformation campaign. “The Baltic states have never allowed their territories and airspace to be used for drone attacks against targets in Russia,” the statement said.
The three countries formally conveyed their rejection of the allegations to Russian diplomatic representatives in Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius in late March. Despite this, they noted that Moscow has continued to repeat the accusations.
The ministers emphasized that Ukraine is exercising its right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter and called on Russia to end its full-scale invasion and withdraw its forces from internationally recognized Ukrainian territory. They reaffirmed that the Baltic states remain in full solidarity with Ukraine.
The accusations came after a series of Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian targets near Saint Petersburg, during which some drones reportedly passed through the airspace of Baltic countries and Finland.
Putin's envoy Dmitriev meets Trump officials ahead of oil sanctions deadline
Kirill Dmitriev, a senior Russian envoy and head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, is currently in the United States, but his visit is not related to peace talks on Ukraine, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on April 10.
Peskov’s remarks followed a Reuters report that Dmitriev had met with officials from the administration of Donald Trump. According to the report, discussions were expected to cover both potential Ukraine peace negotiations and broader U.S.-Russia economic cooperation. However, Peskov denied any connection to negotiations, saying, “This is not the resumption of talks.”
Dmitriev’s visit comes just ahead of an April 11 deadline on whether Washington will extend sanctions relief on Russian oil. The Trump administration previously introduced a temporary waiver allowing limited purchases of sanctioned Russian oil to stabilize global markets amid disruptions linked to the conflict with Iran.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the measure was aimed at easing volatility in energy prices. The move followed a March 9 phone call between Trump and Vladimir Putin, which helped reopen channels for diplomatic engagement.
Dmitriev has played a central role in Moscow’s outreach to Washington and previously visited the U.S. to discuss the global energy situation with figures including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Meanwhile, U.S.-led trilateral talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States remain on hold, largely due to the escalation of conflict in the Middle East following strikes involving Iran, which have driven up global oil prices and shifted Washington’s strategic focus.
Dmitry Peskov has confirmed that Kirill Dmitriev is visiting the United States in his role as head of an economic cooperation group, stressing that the trip is not related to negotiations on the war in Ukraine.
According to Peskov, “Kirill Dmitriev is not conducting negotiations on the Ukraine settlement. And this is not a resumption of negotiations,” dismissing speculation that the visit signals renewed diplomatic talks.
The statement, reported by Interfax, reinforces the Kremlin’s position that current contacts between Moscow and Washington remain limited and are not part of a formal peace process.
Russian shadow fleet tanker slips through Strait of Hormuz
A tanker linked to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet has entered the Persian Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting a cautious resumption of maritime traffic after a ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran.
According to Financial Times, the Russian-flagged tanker Arhimeda — a very large crude carrier previously sanctioned by the U.S. under a different name for involvement in Iranian oil trade — switched off its transponder near the entrance to the strait before reappearing inside the Gulf later the same day.
The vessel is among roughly a dozen ships that have passed through the chokepoint since the ceasefire, with at least two of them linked to U.S. sanctions. Most of the traffic so far has involved vessels connected to Iran, as many global shipowners remain cautious and are waiting for clearer security guarantees before resuming normal operations through one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes.