The President emphasized that Lithuania strongly supported Ukrainian people. Their courage not to give up and to make every effort to defend their country and its future is the best proof that no aggression can stifle determination to live in freedom.
According to Dalia Grybauskaitė, pressure by the international community has significantly contributed to Nadiya Savchenko’s release. However, more than twenty Ukrainians are still illegally imprisoned in Russia for political reasons. It is necessary to maintain a firm and principled position in respect of Russia for all Ukrainian political prisoners to come back to their homeland.
Lithuania has continuously been active in the United Nations, in the European Union and in other international organizations in raising the issue of releasing Nadiya Savchenko and other Ukrainian people imprisoned in Russia. On the initiative of the President, Nadiya Savchenko’s sister Vira read out her sister’s – who was held in prison – message to the international community at a high-level discussion of women world leaders hosted by the UN General Assembly last year. Standing in solidarity with Ukraine, Lithuania also imposes sanctions against persons who have contributed to the illegal imprisonment of Ukrainian citizens.
Our country also provides full assistance to Ukraine, helps its people implement reforms and build transparent and responsible institutions. Following Russia’s aggression, Lithuania’s support to Ukraine has amounted to four million euros. Children from the war-torn regions of Eastern Ukraine come to study to Lithuania and wounded Ukrainian soldiers are provided with treatment and rehabilitation services.
