According to the President, Lithuania has always supported Ukraine's independence and fight for its democratic future; therefore, it is important to further ensure Lithuania's political and practical support to Ukraine. Among the other issues discussed at the meeting was the situation in Eastern Ukraine and deeply concerning renewed military actions.
Lithuania delivers bilateral humanitarian and multilateral assistance to Ukraine. The injured are treated in Lithuania and the children affected in zones of conflict study here; aid is provided via specialized UN agencies and the Red Cross.
The President and the Ambassador discussed Ukraine's ongoing reforms in the judicial, banking, anti-corruption, energy, and other sectors. The President pointed out that it was important to continue the reform process and that sharing Lithuania's extertise with Ukraine could help achieve this.
The meeting also discussed visa liberalization and the necessity to successfully implement the EU-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement. The President stressed that Lithuania was ready to provide technical support to Ukraine.
On 12 December 2016, Lithuania and Ukraine will mark the 25th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.
From 1984 to 1992, the Ambassador, born in 1962, was a Russian language lecturer and vice dean for foreign students. In 1992, he started to work at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 2006 to 2010 he served as consul general in Milan, and from 2010 to 2014 he was director of the Directorate General for Worldwide Ukrainians, Cultural and Humanitarian Cooperation. Volodymyr Yatsenkivskyi speaks English, Polish, Italian, French, and Russian.
