Lithuania lifts air alert after suspected drones approaching from Belarus diverted - Europe live

Putin praises 'unprecedented' relations with China with focus on foreign policy, trade, energy

During his talks in China, Putin said that Russia and China were committed to “independent and sovereign” foreign policy, as they signed declarations of closer cooperation.

“Most important is that Russia and China are committed to an independent and sovereign foreign policy, are working together in close strategic cooperation and playing an important stabilising role on the global stage,” Putin said.

Erm.

Putin also said that Russia was ready to continue supplying China with energy, Reuters reported, after his talks with Xi that made him say the Russian-Chinese relations are at an “unprecedented” level.

Xi also stressed the “political mutual trust and strategic cooperation” between the countries, according to Chinese state media. The two leaders have praised each other profusely in the past, with Xi at one point describing Putin as his “best and most intimate friend, AP said.

Morning opening: Drone alerts in the Baltics, again

Lithuania has issued an air alert this morning warning its population near the capital, Vilnius, to shelter in place, the latest Baltic country to see drone incidents impact its life after Estonia and Latvia.

“Lithuania has issued an air alert in parts of the country after a suspected drone approaching from Belarus was detected near the border. Nato Baltic Air Policing has been activated,” Lithuania’s Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

Vilnius airport has suspended flights temporarily, and an alarm sounded in the Lithuanian parliament. Train traffic has also been suspended, with passengers evacuated to shelters, LRT reported.

The incident comes just a day after Nato had to shoot down a suspected stray Ukrainian drone over Estonia, with Russia threatening the Baltics by alleging they were working with Ukraine to launch attacks on its territory.

Elsewhere, there is a lot of focus on Vladimir Putin’s trip to China for talks with Xi Jinping, with the two discussing their foreign policy aims and closer military cooperation, just a week after Donald Trump’s visit there.

The tightening relations between Moscow and Bejing will spook Europe and the US, particularly with Putin talking about “Russia and China playing stabilising role on international stage.” Erm.

I will also bring you an update on the EU-US trade talks, and keep an eye on Hungarian PM Péter Magyar’s visit to Poland where he is due to meet prime minister Donald Tusk and president Karol Nawrocki.

It’s Wednesday, 20 May 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.

Good morning.