Minister Budrys: Deepening academic cooperation between Lithuania and Ukraine testifies to our solidarity and shared values

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kęstutis Budrys, together with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha, and the First Ladies of Lithuania and Ukraine - Diana Nausėdiene and Olena Zelenska -participated in a ceremony of joining of Lithuanian universities in the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies in the Centre of Ukraine.

"As Russia continues its war against Ukraine to destroy the country's statehood, language, culture, and identity, academic cooperation becomes an important counterbalance to disinformation and the distortion of history. Today, we are not only strengthening academic ties but also deepening our knowledge about Ukraine in Lithuania and beyond. This is a clear testimony of our solidarity and our common values," said Budrys.

Particular attention in the coalition's activities is paid to the issues pertaining to the Crimean Tatars. When speaking about the historical context, the Minister said that Tatars live in Lithuania since the 14th and 15th centuries, when the Grand Duke Gediminas invited them to Vilnius and Vytautas the Great brought them from Crimea to Trakai.

"The Tatars have become an integral part of Lithuania's society, fighting together with Lithuanians for our freedom, taking part in the uprisings against the Russian oppression, and still enriching our culture, language, and traditions. Today, 600-700 years after the arrival of the first Tatars in Lithuania, there are Tatar community centres in the country, and their contribution is reflected both in Lithuanian cuisine and in everyday speech," the Minister noted.

According to the Minister, the joining of Lithuanian universities in the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies is a natural continuation of centuries-long cooperation. "We are not starting from scratch; we are continuing what was started centuries ago," said Budrys.