New Delhi: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday held high-level talks with his Lithuanian and Polish counterparts Gitanas Nausėda, and Karol Nawrocki respectively, in Vilnius, stressing the urgent need for unity and close coordination as the war continues.
The discussions focused on energy support for Ukraine, strengthening air defence systems, and expanding interceptor production. Leaders also reviewed European defence initiatives, including the PURL and SAFE programmes, which are expected to deliver results this year, according to reports.
Ukraine’s path toward EU membership was another key topic. Zelenskyy also briefed his counterparts on recent peace talks held in the UAE and ongoing engagement with international partners, especially the US.
The Ukrainian president thanked Lithuania and Poland for their consistent and practical support, with special emphasis on energy assistance. He said every form of help has made a real difference for the Ukrainian people.
During his visit, Zelenskyy also met with Lithuania’s Health Minister, Marija Jakubauskienė, and Lithuanian volunteers Jonas Ohman and Edmundas Jakilaitis. He acknowledged their direct support for Ukraine since the early days of the conflict.
At Rasos Cemetery in Vilnius, Zelenskyy paid tribute to those who died in the January Uprising of 1863–1864. He recalled the shared struggle of the Ukrainian, Polish, Lithuanian, and Belarusian peoples against the Russian Empire.
He said today’s fight echoes that history, with Ukrainians defending the future of coming generations. Zelenskyy emphasized that Europe stands for the values of people, nations, and cultures, noting that unity has always proven stronger than oppression.
Zelenskyy highlighted unprecedented support from Poland and Lithuania since Russia’s full-scale invasion began on February 24. He also acknowledged strong backing from the Baltic states, Northern Europe, Germany, France, the UK, Southern Europe, Romania, Moldova, the United States, Canada, and Japan.
He said such unity was unimaginable in the 19th century but is now a powerful reality. The president called for support to remain fully effective, consistent, and unconditional, warning against hesitation or political delays.
In a post on X, Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s defence is also Europe’s defence, and stressed that collective action must be strong enough to remove any future threat to the continent.
