One only needs to dip into Vernandsky's "History of Russia" to find the origins of this i.e. Lithuania used to mean something in the 17th Cent and earlier.

The Union and Decline (16th – 17th Century)
Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth: Facing pressure from Moscow, the two nations signed the Union of Lublin in 1569, forming a federative state. Lithuania kept its own laws, army, and treasury but became increasingly Polonized.

Cultural Hub: Vilnius University was founded in 1579, becoming a leading center of education in Eastern Europe.
The Deluge: In the mid-17th century, invasions by Russia and Sweden devastated the country, leading to the first-ever capture and looting of Vilnius by a foreign army.
Wikipedia

Etc.