Baltic states synchronize with European electricity grid
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania "successfully" synchronized with the Continental European electricity grid on Sunday afternoon, President of Lithuania Gitanas Nauseda said. "The period of political pressure and blackmail is finally over," he added.
"Moments ago I received great news – the synchronization of the Baltic states electricity systems with the continental European system has been successfully completed," Nauseda said at a press conference in Vilnius at just after 2 p.m.
"This is a historic moment marking the end of a long journey for Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. From now on we have achieved full energy independence. The period of political pressure and blackmail is finally over," he said.
Nauseda was speaking at a press conference with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, President of Estonia Alar Karis, President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs and President of Poland Andrzej Duda.
On Saturday morning all three countries desynchronized from the Russian BRELL ring electricity grid, a hangover from the Soviet-era. They then spent almost 36 hours carrying out tests before syncing with the European grid via Poland.
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania "successfully" synchronized with the Continental European electricity grid on Sunday afternoon, President of Lithuania Gitanas Nauseda said. "The period of political pressure and blackmail is finally over," he added.
"Moments ago I received great news – the synchronization of the Baltic states electricity systems with the continental European system has been successfully completed," Nauseda said at a press conference in Vilnius at just after 2 p.m.
"This is a historic moment marking the end of a long journey for Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. From now on we have achieved full energy independence. The period of political pressure and blackmail is finally over," he said.
Nauseda was speaking at a press conference with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, President of Estonia Alar Karis, President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs and President of Poland Andrzej Duda.
On Saturday morning all three countries desynchronized from the Russian BRELL ring electricity grid, a hangover from the Soviet-era. They then spent almost 36 hours carrying out tests before syncing with the European grid via Poland.
Gitanas Nauseda receiving the historical phone call confirming synchronization had been completed on Sunday February 9, 2025. Source: Office of the President of the Republic of Lithuania/ Eitvydas Kinaitis.
This means Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are now fully in control of their own networks and, for the first time, are fully integrated into the EU internal energy market. The Continental European network has more than 400 million consumers in 26 countries.
"Today history is made, we connect the Baltic states to our Continental European electricity grid. Electricity lines with Russia and Belarus are being dismantled," von der Leyen told the media. "These chains of power lines linking you to hostile neighbors will be a thing of the past – this is freedom."
Karis called the desynchronization "necessary and symbolic" and said Russia is a "reliable aggressor country" and its behavior will likely continue.
"The more we cut our dependence from Russia the better for our security and sovereignty," the Estonian president said.
Karis added the Baltics have not bought electricity from Russia for a long time but now the reliance on the grid has completely ended.
