Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia agreed on Thursday to disconnect from the Russian-controlled electricity grid and plug into the European Union’s system.
The prime ministers of the three NATO Member States signed a joint declaration pledging to complete the transition by February 2025.
“The fact that the Baltic States remain part of the Russian-run BRELL electricity system poses a threat to the energy security” of the three small nations, their heads of government said in the declaration.
The Baltic states decided to synchronise their electricity grids with the European continental system in 2018, after securing funding from the European Union.
To end their energy dependence on Russia, which dates back to the Soviet era, the three countries will connect to the EU power grid via Poland.
“Although we believe that the electricity systems of the Baltic countries would be ready to be synchronised before February 2025, it is important to act together to realise the remaining projects,” Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte said in a statement.
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were part of the Soviet Union until 1991. Today, all three countries are staunch allies of Ukraine.
