AGP Executive Report

Baltic Security Jitters: Latvia is bracing for more drone alerts as NATO scrambles and Russia keeps pushing threats at the UN—while Latvia insists it’s not enabling attacks and allies say the claims are lies. Putin Under Pressure: Russia’s leader faces mounting domestic headwinds—internet outages, a tightening economy, and falling approval ratings—yet analysts say it’s not enough to topple him. Ukraine Retaliation Row: Moscow blames Kyiv for a deadly Luhansk dorm strike and vows revenge; Ukraine denies it and says it hit a drone command unit. US–NATO Troop Chaos: NATO welcomed Trump’s sudden decision to send an extra 5,000 troops to Poland, after earlier confusion over redeployments. Ukraine Aid Fight: Senators from both parties demand the Pentagon release $600m in security aid delays. Latvian Culture in Cannes: Latvia and France signed a co-production pact, and “Ulya” drew major emotion at Cannes.

Baltic Drone Tensions: Russia is ratcheting up its UN and media threats against Latvia, claiming Riga is enabling Ukrainian drone strikes—while Latvia’s foreign minister and allies insist the accusations are false and that NATO air policing is responding to real airspace risks. NATO/US Posture: NATO foreign ministers in Sweden welcomed a US reversal: Trump says an additional 5,000 troops will go to Poland, but Latvia’s stance is that US troop levels won’t change much. Latvia Politics: Riga City Council revoked Aleksejs Rosļikovs’ mandate after missed meetings, as he vowed to return and “give the country back to the people.” Cannes Spotlight (Film): Latvian cinema is in the spotlight at Cannes: “Ulya” won a huge standing ovation in Un Certain Regard, and Latvia and France signed a new co-production pact. Arts & Culture: Roger Ballen is set to lecture in Latvia with a retrospective opening at the Mark Rothko Art Centre, and Riga Art Week gets a new TUR exhibition, “I want to Be Glue!” Sports TV: Schedules for May 23–24 are out, with plenty of international action.

Baltic Drone Tensions: Latvia says at least one drone entered its airspace and NATO jets were scrambled; residents in eastern districts were told to shelter as the threat warning was later lifted. Russian Nuclear Shadow: Russia has started nuclear war games and moved Iskander missiles into Belarus, while Ukraine rushed troops to the northern border and NATO issued a stark warning. EU Pushback on Disinformation: Latvia’s foreign ministry again rejects Kremlin claims that it allowed Ukraine to launch drone strikes from Latvian territory, calling the accusations false. Ukraine’s Pressure Campaign: Kyiv-linked drone activity is also tied to attacks on Russian oil exports, with a drone strike reported killing three rail workers in Russia’s Bryansk region. Culture & Cannes: In film news, Clio Bernard’s I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning won the Directors’ Fortnight People’s Choice Audience Award. Sports & TV: England’s World Cup 2026 squad is set, with big names reportedly missing out.

Baltic Drone Tensions: Latvia has issued another drone alert after at least one unmanned aircraft entered its airspace, with NATO fighter jets scrambled and residents in eastern areas told to shelter indoors. NATO/EU Messaging: NATO chief Mark Rutte and EU leaders pushed back hard on Russian claims that the Baltics are enabling Ukrainian strikes, calling Moscow’s accusations “totally ridiculous” and “completely unacceptable.” Regional Security: The week’s pattern is clear: drones have triggered shelter orders in Lithuania and air policing responses across Estonia and Latvia, keeping the eastern flank on edge. Ukraine Funding Pressure: In parallel, NATO’s leaders—Rutte and Sweden’s Kristersson—said many allies still aren’t spending enough to support Ukraine, urging more countries to “put the money where the mouth is.” Arts & Culture: Riga Art Week gets a new highlight: South African artist Shana de Villiers opens “I want to Be Glue!” at TUR on May 27.

Baltic Drone Panic: Lithuania’s capital Vilnius and nearby regions were hit with a major “air danger” alert after a suspected drone was detected approaching from Belarus—President Gitanas Nausėda and PM Inga Ruginienė were rushed to shelters, Vilnius airport airspace was closed, and residents were told to seek cover before the threat was later lifted. NATO on Standby: The incident follows a string of Baltic scares where NATO jets scrambled and, in Estonia, a drone was shot down—while officials keep stressing readiness and fast response. Ukraine–Russia Fallout: Ukraine again apologized for “unintended incidents” tied to stray drones, as Kyiv and the Baltics trade blame with Moscow over electronic interference and routing. Cannes Buzz: In entertainment, Andrey Zvyagintsev’s “Minotaur” jolted Cannes with a grim, politically charged crime drama about corruption and the human cost of Putin’s war. Defense Training: New Zealand joined a Norway-led effort to train Ukrainian forces in Poland, with Latvia among participating countries.

Baltic Drone Panic: Lithuania’s Vilnius went into full shelter mode after a suspected drone was detected near the Belarus border, with the president and prime minister rushed to safe locations and Vilnius airport airspace temporarily shut—then the alert was lifted. NATO Air Policing: The incident sits inside a wider pattern of Baltic airspace scares, with NATO jets scrambling and drones being shot down in neighboring Estonia. EU–US Trade Truce: The EU finally approved the “Turnberry” tariff deal, capping most EU exports to the U.S. at 15% after intense internal debate and threats to block the agreement. Cannes Buzz: Andrey Zvyagintsev’s “Minotaur” jolted Cannes with a sharp crime-and-corruption story tied to Putin-era mobilization, filmed in Latvia. Latvia Watch: Latvia rejected Russia’s claims about allowing drone launches from its territory, as the diplomatic fight over Baltic security keeps heating up.

Baltic Drone Tensions: Latvia’s President Edgars Rinkēvičs and officials reject Russia’s claims that Ukraine can launch drone attacks from Latvian territory, calling it a fresh disinformation push. Air-Alert Reality Check: Meanwhile, eastern Latvia saw another National Armed Forces warning for Balvi and Ludza, with alerts later lifted, as NATO jets and Baltic Air Policing interceptors keep responding to drone incursions across the region. NATO-US Signals: NATO’s top officer says he doesn’t expect more U.S. troop drawdowns from Europe beyond the 5,000 already announced. Cannes Spotlight: Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev’s “Minotaur,” shot in Latvia, drew a major Cannes ovation and frames the Ukraine war as a “disaster” backdrop to a family drama. Culture & Travel: Craft-beer travel guides keep spotlighting Latvia’s wild-herb brewing scene, while Benjamin Millepied stays in demand with new choreography projects.

Baltic Air Tension: Latvia and Estonia are again on alert after NATO intercepts multiple drones. In Latvia’s east, the National Armed Forces issued a cell broadcast warning for Balvi and Ludza, later lifting alerts in most areas; train services were briefly suspended in affected municipalities. Cross-Border Escalation: Estonia also reported a drone downed by a NATO fighter jet over southern Estonia, with alerts covering six counties before being lifted. Information War: Latvia’s President Edgars Rinkēvičs and officials reject Russia’s SVR claims that Ukraine plans strikes from Latvian territory, calling it a disinformation campaign; Ukraine’s MFA also formally refuted the allegations. Film Buzz: At Cannes, Andrey Zvyagintsev’s “Minotaur” drew a heartfelt 10-minute standing ovation at its premiere. Art & Culture: “The Inspector’s Debt,” a Bulgarian-Latvian co-production by Teodora Markova, won the €50,000 FFC Bulgaria and Film Forge competition.

Eurovision Aftershock: Bulgaria’s Dara wins Eurovision 2026 in Vienna with “Bangaranga,” while the UK’s Look Mum No Computer lands a brutal nul-points finish—proof that the scoreboard can flip fast when televoting takes over. Baltic Security & Airspace: Latvia’s airspace alerts in Latgale were lifted in stages after a drone entered and left Latvian airspace, with NATO patrol jets activated—another reminder that “everyday life” can still get disrupted overnight. Baltic Cooperation: Norway joins the EU Baltic Sea Region cooperation pact, adding fresh momentum on civil security and resilience as the region’s threat picture stays tense. Crime Crackdown: Europol-backed action dismantles a €240m fake medicines network across Eastern Europe, hitting call centres, warehouses, and hundreds of scam sites. Tech & Culture: Markiplier’s “Iron Lung” is set for a YouTube exclusive purchase release on May 31, while Baltic Shorts at Cannes highlights a “golden age” for co-produced short films. Sports: Finland routs defending champion USA 6-2 at the IIHF worlds, setting up a tense run for the Americans.

Latvia Politics: President Edgars Rinkēvičs has tasked opposition lawmaker Andris Kulbergs with forming an interim government after Prime Minister Evika Siliņa resigned over the handling of stray Ukrainian drones—parliament still has to approve any new cabinet. Airspace Alerts: Latvia’s National Armed Forces warned several Latgale municipalities (Rēzekne, Ludza, Krāslava, Balvi, Alūksne) about a possible air threat, with NATO Baltic Air Patrol jets activated after a drone entered and left Latvian airspace. Eurovision Buzz: The Supernova secret jury is now revealed, and the Latvian Eurovision selection keeps its momentum as the wider contest wraps up in Vienna. Baltic Culture & Film: At Cannes, Baltic Shorts highlighted how co-production networks are boosting short-film visibility across Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Tech for Inclusion: Autism-Europe teamed up with HONOR to turn children’s drawings into short animated clips—tested in a Latvian workshop. Entertainment Spotlight: Markiplier’s horror hit Iron Lung lands on YouTube for purchase on May 31.

YouTube Premiere Buzz: Markiplier’s box-office surprise horror hit Iron Lung is getting a YouTube exclusive purchase debut on May 31, after crossing $50M worldwide on a $4M budget—built mostly through his massive fanbase. Eurovision Afterglow: In Vienna, Bulgaria’s Dara won with “Bangaranga,” while Ukraine’s LELÉKA drew top support from Poland, Georgia and the Czech Republic (and Latvia’s jury gave 7 points). Baltic Security: Latvia’s airspace alert over eastern municipalities was triggered by a drone that entered and left Latvian airspace, with NATO Baltic Air Patrol jets activated. Crime Crackdown: A Europe-wide operation dismantled a fake-medicine network, with raids across multiple countries and websites shut down. Fuel Pressure: A lingering fuel crisis and power rationing are raising fears over medical supplies for millions. Sports Spotlight: USA hockey bounced back at the world championships with a 5-1 win over Great Britain.

Latvia Security: An airspace alert hit Rēzekne, Ludza, Krāslava, Balvi and Alūksne, with NATO Baltic Air Policing jets activated after a drone entered and left Latvian airspace; the alert was lifted in stages and footage showed a drone near the border. Eurovision Finale: Bulgaria won Eurovision 2026 with Dara’s “Bangaranga,” finishing ahead of Israel and Romania, while the UK’s “Look Mum No Computer” landed 25th and sparked online backlash. Baltic Defense Readiness: Estonia and Latvia warn Europe is moving too slowly toward combat readiness, as NATO planners push for faster procurement and common equipment. YouTube & Film: Markiplier’s “Iron Lung” is set for a May 31 YouTube debut after a big cinema run. Sports: The USA hockey team bounced back with a 5-1 win over Great Britain at the world championships, while TV/radio listings and schedules fill out the day’s entertainment mix.

Eurovision Finale Fallout: The 70th Eurovision Song Contest wrapped in Vienna, with Finland/Australia crowned and the UK’s Look Mum No Computer (Sam Battle) landing a rough 25th—plus a social-media backlash after the performance. UK Nul Points: The UK’s jury got “nul” from 23 countries, including Switzerland, Malta, Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Estonia, Israel, Germany, Belgium and Portugal. Eurovision Watch Guide: Fans were pointed to free streams and voting details for the Grand Final, with the full lineup set after the semis. Latvia Politics: Back home, Latvia’s government collapsed over stray Ukrainian drone fallout, and President Edgars Rinkēvičs has tasked opposition lawmaker Andris Kulbergs with forming an interim government. NATO Tech in Latvia: NATO’s Crystal Arrow exercise is testing new procurement and prototype ideas across northern Latvia, including uncrewed ground vehicle concepts. Music Beyond Eurovision: HATEBREED frontman Jamey Jasta teased a new album as “heavy” and “back to basics,” mixed and mastered soon with a fall date.

Latvia Politics: President Edgars Rinkēvičs has tapped opposition lawmaker Andris Kulbergs to form an interim government after Prime Minister Evika Siliņa resigned, with coalition talks now set to run under a tight 10-day deadline and a new cabinet still needing Saeima approval. The trigger: a bitter fight over how Latvia handled stray Ukrainian drone incidents and the speed of anti-drone defence. Eurovision Tonight: The 2026 Grand Final is in Vienna, with viewers getting the full “what time, how to vote, who’s hosting” guide as finalists line up after two dramatic semis—Latvia’s entry didn’t make it, but the show goes on. Metal Spotlight: HATEBREED frontman Jamey Jasta says the band’s new album is their “most ignorant, heavy, caveman-esque” record yet, mixed and mastered soon with a fall release date. Music/Film Buzz: Andrey Zvyagintsev’s Cannes return, Minotaur, is still shrouded in mystery—though it’s a France-Latvia-Germany co-production with MK2 handling sales. Security Watch: Finland’s intelligence chief warns more “stray drone” incidents could sway public support for Ukraine—something Russia may try to exploit.

Eurovision Finale Rush: The 2026 Eurovision final lineup is locked after Thursday’s second semi-final in Vienna, with Delta Goodrem (Australia), DARA (Bulgaria) and Denmark among the qualifiers—while Latvia, Switzerland and others missed out; DARA will perform entry #12 on Saturday and voting is open. Latvia Security Update: Another drone-related air alert hit eastern Latvia early Friday (Rēzekne, Ludza, Balvi, Krāslava), but the threat was later declared over as NATO Baltic patrol jets were scrambled. Regional Spillover Watch: Finland also stood down its Helsinki-area drone alarm and reopened the airport, warning the risk can return as Ukraine-war drone incidents keep crossing borders. Sports Spotlight: In the Clark Cup Finals, Joey Macrina scored twice as Stampede took a 3-1 win and a 1-0 series lead over Muskegon. Culture & Tech: A new survey finds 99% of professional visual artists strongly dislike generative AI, fearing it’s replacing their work.

Eurovision Buzz: Bulgaria’s DARA has locked in Saturday’s Eurovision final spot, performing “Bangaranga” as entry #12 and climbing into bookmakers’ top 10 favourites—plus the full final lineup is now set after the second semi-final. Latvia Security: Latvia’s eastern airspace was hit again with a fresh drone alert in Rēzekne, Balvi, Ludza and Krāslava, with NATO Baltic jets scrambled and the threat later declared over—while Finland also stood down its Helsinki-region drone scare and reopened the airport. Politics in the Spotlight: The wider drone fallout continues to shake Latvia’s government, with coverage pointing to the collapse of Evika Siliņa’s administration and the defence leadership crisis that followed. Justice & Geopolitics: Thirty-six countries have signed up for a special tribunal targeting Vladimir Putin over the crime of aggression against Ukraine, framed as a “point of no return.” Arts & Tech: A new survey says professional visual artists overwhelmingly reject generative AI, citing job and income insecurity.