Lithuania declares state of emergency after Russia invades Ukraine

VILNIUS, Lithuania — Lithuania's president declared a state of emergency on Thursday, telling the NATO country's army to deploy along its borders in response to "possible disturbances and provocations due to large military forces massed in Russia and Belarus."

The state of emergency, declared hours after Russian forces invaded Ukraine, will be valid for two weeks.

Lithuania, a small former Soviet republic of 2.8 million people, shares borders with Russia and Belarus.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda added that the country will request the activation of NATO's Article 4, which provides for emergency consultations if a member of the alliance is threatened.

Parliament will meet later on Thursday to vote whether to confirm or cancel Nauseda's decision.

Once ruled from Moscow but now part of NATO and the European Union, Lithuania borders Belarus and the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad. — Reuters