During his official visit to the Republic of Lithuania, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, together with President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda and First Lady Diana Nausėdienė, met with the Ukrainian community in Lithuania.
The event was held at the Ukrainian Center in Vilnius. At the entrance, the heads of state were greeted by Ukrainian children and presented with handmade felt blue and yellow flowers, which are a symbol of the Ukrainian Center.
Gitanas Nausėda reminded that the initiative to establish the center belonged to the First Ladies of Lithuania and Ukraine, Diana Nausėdienė and Olena Zelenska. The center provides assistance to Ukrainians who were forced to seek refuge in Lithuania from the Russian war.
"Academia, non-governmental organizations, the public and private sectors have joined forces to ensure that Ukrainians have the opportunity to develop their culture and receive the necessary support at this center," he said.
The President of Lithuania emphasized that as long as the war continues, the doors of the Ukrainian Center will always be open to Ukrainians.
"We will continue to provide decent living conditions for Ukrainian citizens who were forced to flee the war to Lithuania. Most importantly, this support reflects the attitude of Lithuanian society, so it is strong and unwavering," the President of Lithuania said.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy familiarized himself with the activities of organizations that support the Ukrainian Center and provide assistance to temporarily displaced Ukrainian citizens. In particular, these are the Lithuanian Red Cross Society, Caritas Lithuania, the volunteer organization Sisters for Sisters, and the Maltese Relief Service.
The Head of State thanked Gitanas Nausėda and Diana Nausėdienė for the warm attitude towards Ukrainian citizens and the extremely emotional part of his visit to Lithuania.
"Thank you for this emotion: I saw our children, their eyes. They have adult eyes, but they were smiling. They felt almost at home. They are taking selfies. And they are alive. Thank you," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
He expressed confidence that after Ukraine's victory in the war unleashed by Russia, all Ukrainians will return home.
"We will do everything to bring this time closer. We will do everything to bring you back home. And I will do everything to ensure that Ukrainians never forget how Lithuania helped our citizens," the President of Ukraine emphasized.
The Head of State expressed gratitude to the First Ladies of Lithuania and Ukraine for the implementation of this wonderful initiative.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy separately thanked Diana Nausėdienė and awarded her the Order of Princess Olga, I class.
"I would like to personally thank you, Diana, as the President of Ukraine on behalf of the people of Ukraine for your sense of connection with Ukrainians," he said.
The First Lady of Lithuania emphasized the heroism of Ukrainians who are fiercely fighting for freedom, independence and democracy.
"It is a great honor for me to receive the state award of Ukraine from the hands of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This is an award for the entire Lithuanian people, who have united for the sake of Ukraine and its people since the beginning of the war," said Diana Nausėdienė.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude and respect to the Rector of the Vytautas Magnus University, Professor Juozas Augutis, for his help and assistance.
"This war has taken away a lot from Ukraine, but it has also revealed a lot to us: there are never too many friends, but we have them. Thank you, Lithuania, for being there for Ukraine," the President summarized.
