Vilma Dambrauskienė Ambassador-at-Large, Headof Officein Skopje of the Embassy of Lithuania said that Lithuania knows the price of Freedom. More than 50 years of soviet occupation, massive deportations from the homeland, political and religious oppression, restrictions on human rights failed to strangle our desire for independence, freedom and justice.
“In July last year, Lithuania hosted NATO Summit in Vilnius, at times when we are facing the most complex and unstable environment since the Cold War period. It was important for the Alliance to further strengthen our deterrence and defense, also maintaining our steadfast support for Ukraine,fighting for its sovereignty, freedom and right to join the European and Euro-Atlantic family”, Dambrauskienė said during her speech.
“We are commemorating 10-year anniversary of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, an aggression which turned into a full-fledged and outright war 2 years ago, aimed atcompletely destroying Ukraine as a country and as a nation. Historically, Ukraine has always been proud, freedom-loving, unbending. Always a target of Russia.
Russia’s aggression against Ukraine represents the most serious threat to global security and stability, not only to Ukraine. It is imperative to realize that ultimately it impacts us all.
Throughout this horrific war, Lithuania, together with our Baltic and Nordic partners have been among the most fiercest champions of Ukraine’s right to a future of its own choosing: one that is free. Lithuania’s total support to Ukraine exceeds 1 billion euros, equalling 2% of its GDP. On the top of that, the solidarity with Ukraine initiatives by the civil society, business and especially ordinary Lithuanian citizens raise and keep raising millions of euros, with which our people continue to deliver the needed humanitarian aid and military equipment for the Ukrainian army and civilians.
We greatly appreciate North Macedonia’s principled stance against russia’s war of aggression, as well as substantial military and humanitarian assistance provided to Ukraine.
As russia‘s brutal war against Ukraine continues, we must act to ensure russia’s accountability for its horrific crimes in Ukraine.
The illegal deportation of the Ukrainian children to russia, belarus, their separation from the families, illegal adoption, assigning them new identities by issuing russian passports is genocidal attempt by russia to erase the Ukrainian identity.
We are convinced that the Special International Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine is the best way to ensure that russia and its political and military leadership cannot escape justice.
We strongly condemn and reject the attempted illegal annexation by russia of Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. As in the case of Crimea and Sevastopol, these illegal annexation attempts will never be recognised as well as the elections russia is planning to organise in these territories of Ukraine.
It is extremely important that we individually and collectively every single day continue supporting Ukrainians in the country and in the front until its victory against brutal aggressor. There is no time for delay, neither for fatigue. russia gears up for a prolonged war by bolstering its wartime economy and military structure, therefore the acceleration of financial and military support to Ukraine is critical now.
The heroism and sacrifice of Ukraine is simply incredible. Ukrainians resilience embodies a shining light to all of us who believe in the basic values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law.
Lithuania has stood by Ukraine before day one and will not tire to support our brothers and sisters Ukrainians in every theirstep till victory,just as we ourselves have not tired of striving for the restoration of Lithuania’s independence for 50 years. Slava Ukraini!”
