Russia struck Ukraine's capital Kyiv overnight, bringing an end to a three-day pause in attacks by the two countries on each other's capital cities as President Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner
to try and broker a peace deal.
asserted
envoys → strike → deal
The neighboring Baltic countries, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania — all NATO members — were watching carefully as the U.S. envoys continued their efforts to resolve the
.But
asserted
envoys → neighbor → the
as they watch and hope for peace, Lithuania and its neighbors have also
that continental Europe's first land war in three generations could spread to their doorsteps.
uncertain
war → watch → doorsteps
CBS News visited an ordinary high school in Vilnius where, in addition to math class, students were learning military-style survival skills.
asserted
students → visit → skills
Along with the rest of their country, they're preparing for the possibility of Russia launching an invasion.
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Russia → prepare → invasion
"Today we're working on survival training, and we're going to learn about weapons later," said Neda, a 15-year-old ninth grader.
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Neda → work → weapons
If there is a crisis, Neda said she would likely put her first-aid knowledge to use and try to become a medic.
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she → be → use
Lithuania, which has a population of less than 3 million, slightly smaller than greater Minneapolis, is also training up adult civilians.
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which → have → civilians
History professor Mindaugas Nefas has been learning weapons skills.
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Nefas → learn → skills
He told CBS News the whole-of-society approach to national readiness sends an important message.
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approach → tell → message
"I think it's a good example, for Russia not to do anything against Lithuania," because it shows not just the military, but all Lithuanians are "preparing to defend our country," he said.
asserted
he → think → country
Taking on board lessons learned in Ukraine, Lithuania's preparations include teaching ordinary people how to use drones — and how to shoot them down.
The nation's small professional military is also embracing the new high-tech tools of war pioneered in Ukraine, including networks of sensors and drones known as the Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative that, paired together, are intended to slow any theoretical Russian invasion to a crawl.
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that → take → crawl
But old-school defenses still matter, too, including obstacles meant to stop tanks and command posts buried underground across the tiny nation.
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defenses → matter → nation
Vilnius, Lithuania's capital city, is less than 20 miles from the border with close Russian ally Belarus, which Vladimir Putin's forces used as a launchpad for their ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
But despite that proximity, and
toward , Lithuania's Minister of Defense Robertas Kaunas told CBS News he was confident.
asserted
he → use → News
He said his nation's message to Russia was clear: "We don't fear you.
asserted
We → say → you
We understand who are you, and we don't fear you."
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we → understand → you
The former Soviet Union's occupation of Lithuania only ended when the communist bloc collapsed in 1991, so it is still fresh in the nation's collective memory.
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it → end → memory
"We are not afraid, because we remember our history," said Kaunas.
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Kaunas → remember → history
"We are in our home and we will protect our home."
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we → protect → home
Until very recently, NATO planners were doubtful that Lithuania could be defended at all against a full Russian assault, given its size and location sandwiched between Russian and Russian-allied territory.
uncertain
Lithuania → defend → territory
But the technological innovations of the war in Ukraine — and the resilience of the Ukrainian people — have inspired new hope in the Baltic state.
asserted
innovations → inspire → state
The Aporia
