Lithuania–Ukraine relations

Lithuania-Ukraine relations
Map indicating locations of Lithuania and Ukraine

Lithuania
Ukraine

Lithuania–Ukraine relations are foreign relations between Lithuania and Ukraine. Both countries are members of the Lublin Triangle, OSCE, Council of Europe, World Trade Organization and United Nations. Lithuania supports Ukraine's European Union and NATO membership. Lithuania has an embassy in Kyiv and Ukraine has an embassy in Vilnius.

History

Grybauskaitė and Petro Poroshenko (December 2016)
Gitanas Nausėda meets Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Ever since the rule of Gediminas in the 1300s much of present-day Ukraine was part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. After the Battle of Blue Waters in 1362, Lithuania took over the Principality of Kiev. Between 1569 and 1795 Poland and Lithuania formed the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth which incorporated much of what is now Ukraine.[1] Following the partitions of Commonwealth, the bulk of Lithuania and present-day Ukraine fell to the Russian Empire. Both countries formed part of the USSR (Ukraine since 1922, Lithuania since 1944) until 1991.

A number of agreements were signed in November 2009 including the mutual recognition of university qualifications and cooperation in preserving cultural heritage; furthermore, Lithuania promised assistance to Ukraine in its aspirations to become a member of the European Union.[2][3]

In 2014, the Lithuanian president Dalia Grybauskaitė voiced her support for Ukraine in the wake of the Russo-Ukrainian War.[4] In January 2015, Lithuania requested a United Nations Security Council meeting due to the ongoing conflict in Eastern Ukraine.[5] Later on, Vytautas Landsbergis declared that he believes the Minsk agreement to be "worse than Munich".[6]

In 2021, the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted the importance of Lithuania's support for Ukraine's European Union and NATO aspirations, while the Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda noted that Lithuania supports Ukraine's progress and welcomes reforms in Ukraine.[7]

Following the start of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Lithuania has strongly condemned the invasion and called for military, economic and humanitarian aid for Ukraine.[8] In the prelude of invasion, on 13 February 2022, Lithuania sent FIM-92 Stinger anti-aircraft missile systems and ammunition to Ukraine.[9] Military aid further continued and, according to the Lithuanian Minister of National Defence, as of 21 November 2022, the total aid to Ukraine amounted to €660 million, of which the military aid was €240 million.[10]

In April 2024, the Lithuanian government considered repatriating Ukrainian men of military age living in Lithuania to Ukraine to be drafted into the Ukrainian army.[11] Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė and Defence Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas voiced support for the repatriation of military-age Ukrainian men to Ukraine.[12]

Overview

According to the 2016 census, 17,679 ethnic Ukrainians were living in Lithuania, mostly in Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Šiauliai, Jonava, and Visaginas.[13] Moreover, Lithuania is a popular destination for the Ukrainian migrants and over 21,800 Ukrainians have work-based residence permits.[14][15] The Ukrainians evaluate Lithuania positively.[16][17]

Over 7,000 ethnic Lithuanians are living in Ukraine and are represented by the Lithuanian community of Ukraine organization there.[18][19] Lithuania consistently supports Ukraine in Russo-Ukrainian War.[20][21][22] Lithuania has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine joining NATO.[23]

See also

References

  1. ^ Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine to form brigade for UN, EU and NATO peacekeeping missions, NY Daily News (November 16, 2009)
  2. ^ Ukraine, Lithuania sign series of agreements, Kyiv Post (November 26, 2009)
  3. ^ Lithuania promises assistance on Ukraine's path to EU membership, Kyiv Post (November 26, 2009)
  4. ^ "The Baltic 'Iron Lady': Putin's solitary foe". POLITICO. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  5. ^ "Lithuania calls UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine". uatoday.tv. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  6. ^ "Vytautas Landsbergis on Minsk agreement: It is worse than Munich". DELFI. 13 February 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  7. ^ "Lithuania will support Ukraine on the path of European and Euro-Atlantic integration - Volodymyr Zelenskyy". Official website of the President of Ukraine. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  8. ^ "Lithuania declares state of emergency, calls for sanctions on Belarus as Russia attacks Ukraine". LRT. 24 March 2022. Archived from the original on 19 March 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  9. ^ "Ukraine receives anti-aircraft missiles from Lithuania". Reuters. 13 February 2022. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  10. ^ "Lithuania's support to Ukraine totals €660m". LRT. 6 December 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  11. ^ Shaun Walker (26 April 2024). "Poland and Lithuania pledge to help Kyiv repatriate Ukrainians subject to military draft". The Guardian.
  12. ^ "Lithuanian leaders in favour of sending military-age men back to Ukraine". LRT Radijas. 29 April 2024.
  13. ^ "Ukrainiečiai". Vle.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  14. ^ "20 tūkstančių ukrainiečių Lietuvoje: "Kai pradeda kosėti, paprašo laisvos dienos"". 15min.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  15. ^ Radžiūnas, Vytenis. "Atskleidė, kodėl ukrainiečiai taip veržiasi į Lietuvą: priminė mūsų emigrantų patirtį". lrytas.lt. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  16. ^ "Ukraine: we have brotherly relations with Lithuania". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  17. ^ Gasanovas, Orijus. "Ukrainiečiai Lietuvą vadina svajonių šalimi: priežastys, kodėl pas mus geriau nei pas juos". DELFI (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  18. ^ Fedirkienė, Džiulija Elena. "Lietuviai Ukrainoje". Embassy of Lithuania in Ukraine. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  19. ^ "Ukrainos lietuvių bendruomenė | Товариство литовців України | Lithuanian community of Ukraine". litva.org.ua.
  20. ^ "Supporting Ukraine is within Lithuania's security interests". President of Lithuania. Press Service of the President. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  21. ^ "Lithuania's Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis: Lithuania will continue its consistent support to Ukraine". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  22. ^ "Sanctions on Russia must continue until it leaves Ukraine's territory, says Lithuanian president". Lrt.lt. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  23. ^ "NATO repeating old mistakes? Lithuania stands isolated advocating for Ukraine". LRT. 13 July 2023. Retrieved 13 July 2023.