Lietuvos Respublikos Prezidentas

08/23/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/24/2026 07:35

Address by the President of the Republic of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėda, on the occasion of Ukraine’s Flag Day

Mr. President, dear Volodymyr, dear Olena,

Dear people of Ukraine,

I congratulate you on Ukraine's Flag Day!

It is an honor for me to return to Kyiv-the city of truth, courage, and hope.

The spirit of freedom I feel here is unlike anywhere else.

The example of self-sacrifice you demonstrate every day is especially close to the people of Lithuania. We know very well the price of freedom. We know how painful it is to lose it and how much effort it takes to regain it.

I vividly remember February 2022, when I visited Kyiv together with the then President of Poland. It was the day before Russia launched its full-scale military aggression against Ukraine. The unwavering determination of the Ukrainian people, their will to fight and never give up, left an indelible impression on me.

During those terrible days, the whole of Lithuania united to help Ukraine and its people. The streets of our cities were filled with Ukrainian flags. It was a sight I have never witnessed anywhere else.

The flags raised 42 months ago are still flying today. To this day, we remain among your country's staunchest supporters. We know perfectly well that Ukraine must prevail, because only Ukraine's victory can bring peace and stability to the whole of Europe.

That is why we will continue to stand with Ukraine. We will never recognize the occupation of Ukrainian territories. We will continue to increase pressure on the aggressor state and its accomplices.

And when this terrible war ends-when all the people of Ukraine can once again look up at the sky without fear-Lithuania will be there with you. We will help Ukraine rebuild its destroyed schools, hospitals, and power plants. We will help restore people's lives, heal the wounds. We will help you on your path to membership in the European Union and NATO.

Dear Ukrainian brothers and sisters,

Today, I call on you: be proud of your country. Be proud of one another's strength, perseverance, and determination. Because we, too, are proud of you and draw strength from you.

I believe that soon we will be able to celebrate together the victory over darkness. A victory that will not only be Ukraine's victory, but of all free Europe.

Happy Independence Day to you all!

Glory to Ukraine!

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Gitanas Nausėda, President of the Republic of Lithuania
Last updated 2026.08.23 12:07

Lietuvos Respublikos Prezidentas published this content on August 23, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on August 24, 2026 at 13:35 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]