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... According to a draft Russian defence ministry resolution published on Tuesday, Moscow plans to extend its territorial waters by changing its maritime borders with Finland and Lithuania in the Baltic Sea from January 2025. The redefined coordinates would see Moscow declaring Finnish and Lithuanian areas of the sea as Russian.

"This is an obvious escalation of tensions against NATO and the European Union that requires an appropriate firm response," wrote Lithuania's foreign minister, Gabrielius Landsbergis, on X.

Another Russian hybrid operation is underway, this time attempting to spread fear, uncertainty and doubt about their intentions in the Baltic Sea. This is an obvious escalation against NATO and the EU, and must be met with an appropriately firm response.
" Gabrielius Landsbergis (@GLandsbergis) May 22, 2024

"Russia cannot unilaterally change its borders in this way," Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson told the TT news agency this week. Estonia and Finland echoed these sentiments.

Russia's motives for the move remain unclear. The text of the bill was posted on the official website of the Registry of Laws on May 21 and subsequently removed. ...