PRESS RELEASE : Joint statement of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President of the Republic of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda
The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 29 July 2022.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President of the Republic of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda met on the occasion of the Day of Ukrainian Statehood in Kyiv.
The Presidents reiterated their unwavering support to the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.
President Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to President of Lithuania and the Lithuanian people for a standing political support, tangible defence assistance, and humanitarian aid being provided to Ukraine.
President Nausėda assured that Lithuania will actively promote the swift provision of all kind assistance to Ukraine by democratic international partners on a constant and long-term basis.
Ukraine and Lithuania strongly condemned Russia’s attempted illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, the ongoing temporary occupation of part of the sovereign territory of Ukraine in the Eastern and Southern regions of Ukraine, the blockade of the Black and Azov Seas and ongoing militarization of the Black Sea region.
Ukraine and Lithuania reaffirmed their intentions to cooperate at bilateral and international fora with regard to de-occupation of the Ukrainian territories, temporarily occupied by Russia, particularly by using the International Crimea Platform format.
Ukraine and Lithuania will actively cooperate in order to increase pressure on Russia as an aggressor and occupant country, including sanctions, further isolation, holding accountable, including within the framework of international judicial institutions or relevant bodies, for crime of aggression, war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Ukraine.
Emphasizing the historical significance of the decision of the European Council of June 23rd, 2022 to grant Ukraine the candidate status for membership in the European Union, Ukraine and Lithuania confirm their full commitment to the European integration of Ukraine in order to gain its full-fledged membership in the EU.
Lithuania confirmed its readiness to provide Ukraine with all possible assistance in preparing for the forthcoming accession negotiations with the EU, according to the European Commission’s recommendations.
Building on NATO Madrid Summit decisions and looking forward to the next NATO Summit in Vilnius in 2023, Ukraine and Lithuania will actively cooperate in implementing strengthened package of NATO support to Ukraine and seeking the most ambitious deliverables at the upcoming NATO Summit, with a view to strengthening Ukraine’s capability to defend itself and assisting Ukraine on its path to Euro-Atlantic integration.
Welcoming the Ukraine’s Recovery and Development Plan, presented during the Ukraine Recovery Conference (July 4th-5th, 2022, Lugano, Swiss Confederation), Lithuania confirms its readiness to actively participate in the reconstruction of Ukraine.
President of Ukraine expressed appreciation to Lithuania for standing assistance in sheltering the Ukrainian temporarily displaced persons, and praised the recent opening in Vilnius of the first Ukrainian Center in the European Union for citizens who were forced to leave Ukraine.
Expressing their deep satisfaction with the existing level of bilateral relations on the strategic partnership level, Ukraine and Lithuania will make every effort to further strengthen and deepen it.
