EU Sanctions Deadlock: EU foreign ministers still can’t agree on the 21st Russia package, but Kaja Kallas says they may still add 250 individuals and entities, while Lithuania’s Kęstutis Budrys warns against letting economic interests dilute security, especially on maritime services and LNG rules. Ukraine Accession Pace: Lithuania says the EU will open Ukraine’s sixth negotiating cluster on July 14, with the rest pushed to autumn after Hungary blocked clusters 2–6. Energy Support for Kyiv: Budrys also urged stronger EU help for Ukraine’s energy sector ahead of winter, citing Russian attacks and the need for transformers and generators. Baltic Defense Investment: The EIB has completed a €290m financing package for Lithuania’s Rūdninkai NATO military base, targeting operations by end-2027. Border Controls Debate: Lithuania’s new interior minister says temporary controls on the border with Latvia are on the table if secondary migration keeps slipping through. ICJ Case Prep Claim: An investigation says Russia-linked lawyers are preparing an ICJ case against the Baltic states over alleged ethnic-Russian rights. South China Sea Law Row: 14 countries including Lithuania reaffirmed the 2016 arbitration ruling as final and legally binding; China responded with protests and says its “governance has never ceased.”