VOA常速英语:立陶宛警惕俄罗斯，支持北约防守波罗的海地区

A German-led NATO battle group in Lithuania stages maneuvers for visiting European dignitaries.After Russia’s annexation of Crimea, NATO agreed to send troops here and to Estonia, Latvia, and Poland in a move to deter potential Russian aggression.

“We are from Norway; we are from Belgium and from the Netherlands, we all accomplished a very high intensity training.So we are a contingent, we are prepared to deter and to defend Lithuania.”

Russia has described the deployment as threatening its security and plans a large military drill in September in neighboring Belarus.Russia’s military drills and increased buzzing of NATO airspace raise concerns among Baltic states,which rely on NATO policing for defense.

“We are protecting NATO airspace, NATO borders.And it’s not necessarily just the Russians - it’s any aircraft that doesn’t comply with the rules that we ... that apply in the air.”

U.S. President Donald Trump’s demand that NATO members pay more for their defense is welcomed by the Baltic states but there is concern that his push for better U.S.-Russia relations will (not) sacrifice their interests.

“We do hope that such kind of relations will not create new spheres of influence; no more Yaltas Two;and of course they shouldn’t be contrary to the international law as we know it.”

Lithuania is taking measures that include building a fence this year along its open border with Russia’s Kaliningrad.The main purpose of the fence is to prevent smuggling, but there are also concerns about Russia.

“Well, as I say, we have to be prepared for the worst, provocations could happen.And, we saw an incident on Estonian border where one Estonian officer was just kidnapped.”

Sandwiched between Lithuania and Poland, Russia’s Kaliningrad is a strategic outpost housing its Baltic Fleet and ballistic missiles.Some residents are worried.Because the Kaliningrad region is quite small and many people are quite concerned about that, including us.”

Others less so, "I do not think someone would take such a risk.I do not think both NATO and the European Union are in a hostile mood.”

Just in case, Baltic states urged NATO to take additional security measures in the region before Russia’s September military exercise.

Daniel Schearf, VOA News, Rukla, Lithuania.