Sarah Rainsford

And it's certainly sticking Ukraine's throat to see Russia kind of parading itself as a possible investor for America at a time when, of course, Russian missiles are still raining down on Ukraine.

This is an attack in Vilnius, as you say, on an IKEA store there in the city. It was a huge fire. It caused around about half a million euros worth of damage to the store. And now what Lithuanian prosecutors are saying is that there was an explosive device that was planted in the store just before it closed for the evening.

This is an attack in Vilnius, as you say, on an IKEA store there in the city. It was a huge fire. It caused around about half a million euros worth of damage to the store. And now what Lithuanian prosecutors are saying is that there was an explosive device that was planted in the store just before it closed for the evening.

And they have linked two teenagers to that, what they're categorising a terrorist attack. They say they've got very detailed evidence about how the two operated. They say there was a whole organised group with multiple people involved. They now have one young man who has been detained in Lithuania and one who's been detained here in Poland. Both of them linked children. to this attack.

And they have linked two teenagers to that, what they're categorising a terrorist attack. They say they've got very detailed evidence about how the two operated. They say there was a whole organised group with multiple people involved. They now have one young man who has been detained in Lithuania and one who's been detained here in Poland. Both of them linked children. to this attack.

And they say that they were travelling back and forth before they bought the materials that they used to carry out the attack, that they filmed the fire afterwards. And the Lithuanian authorities are linking this quite directly, they say, to Russian intelligence. They're saying that the whole operation was run by Russian military intelligence and they're describing...

And they say that they were travelling back and forth before they bought the materials that they used to carry out the attack, that they filmed the fire afterwards. And the Lithuanian authorities are linking this quite directly, they say, to Russian intelligence. They're saying that the whole operation was run by Russian military intelligence and they're describing...

that agency as a serious adversary, which operates without rules. That was the quote from the chief prosecutor who is involved in investigating this particular case.

that agency as a serious adversary, which operates without rules. That was the quote from the chief prosecutor who is involved in investigating this particular case.

No, they were Ukrainian. And that's a kind of curious twist to this whole plot. But it's not the only time when Ukrainians have been involved in this kind of thing. As you said, there has been a surge of sabotage and arson attacks across Eastern Europe, particularly the Baltics and here in Poland. in recent months over the past year or so.

No, they were Ukrainian. And that's a kind of curious twist to this whole plot. But it's not the only time when Ukrainians have been involved in this kind of thing. As you said, there has been a surge of sabotage and arson attacks across Eastern Europe, particularly the Baltics and here in Poland. in recent months over the past year or so.

And in many of those cases, some of the nationals involved have been Ukrainian. Now, in some cases that I've looked into, those have been pro-Russian Ukrainians, particularly one that was just prosecuted in Western Poland a few weeks ago and was given eight years for plotting an act of arson there.

And in many of those cases, some of the nationals involved have been Ukrainian. Now, in some cases that I've looked into, those have been pro-Russian Ukrainians, particularly one that was just prosecuted in Western Poland a few weeks ago and was given eight years for plotting an act of arson there.

In other cases, as in this case, what the prosecutors are saying is these are people who are acting for cash. They're saying that the pair are involved in the attack on Ikea were given a BMW afterwards and they were promised €10,000 payment for the attack. So there is this very curious trend of using Ukrainians in particular.

In other cases, as in this case, what the prosecutors are saying is these are people who are acting for cash. They're saying that the pair are involved in the attack on Ikea were given a BMW afterwards and they were promised €10,000 payment for the attack. So there is this very curious trend of using Ukrainians in particular.

And I would suggest that probably from the Russian side, that's also about making people across Europe suspicious of Ukrainian nationals and undermining support for helping Ukraine in its war against Russia. It's all, I think, part of what Russia is up to.

And I would suggest that probably from the Russian side, that's also about making people across Europe suspicious of Ukrainian nationals and undermining support for helping Ukraine in its war against Russia. It's all, I think, part of what Russia is up to.

Yeah, he seemed remarkably optimistic about that. He said he thinks that they're very close to getting agreement with Russia and that he's getting very good signals from Moscow, where, of course, his presidential envoy, Steve Witkoff, is there having discussions with the Russians, very serious discussions.

Yeah, he seemed remarkably optimistic about that. He said he thinks that they're very close to getting agreement with Russia and that he's getting very good signals from Moscow, where, of course, his presidential envoy, Steve Witkoff, is there having discussions with the Russians, very serious discussions.

Donald Trump called them and he even said that he himself would actually love to meet with or talk with Vladimir Putin about this. But there was a there was a kind of hint of a threat there as well, saying that it would be very disappointing for the world if Russia doesn't agree to this ceasefire.