On January 25, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met in Vilnius with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda and Polish President Karol Nawrocki. During a joint press conference, the Ukrainian leader commented on the outcomes of the trilateral meeting between Ukraine, the United States, and Russia held in the UAE.
Russia Is a Common Enemy of Ukrainians, Poles, Lithuanians, and Belarusians
At around 10 a.m. Kyiv time, Volodymyr and Olena Zelenskyy were welcomed by the President of Lithuania and the First Lady. During bilateral talks, the leaders discussed support for Ukraine’s energy system, strengthening air defense, and expanding military cooperation between Ukraine and Lithuania. They also addressed the results of the trilateral meeting in the UAE, which ended without an agreement.
The meeting of the Lublin Triangle leaders coincided with the anniversary of the January Uprising – a national liberation movement of 1863-1864 against the Russian Empire. It spread across the territories of present-day Poland, Lithuania, Belarus, and parts of Ukraine. Following the talks, the presidents of Ukraine and Lithuania paid tribute to those who died during the uprising. They also attended a commemorative church service. Polish President Karol Nawrocki and Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya were also present at the service.
Speaking at the church, President Zelenskyy emphasized the shared historical fate of the region’s nations. According to him, the January Uprising demonstrated that the success of Ukrainians, Poles, Lithuanians, and Belarusians can only be achieved together.
“Only to the extent that we stand together can we be independent. We have one enemy. This has been going on for more than four years of full-scale war, preceded by years of hybrid warfare, as well as decades of domination by Soviet Moscow and imperial St. Petersburg,” Zelenskyy said.
In his speech, the Ukrainian president also highlighted Belarus’s dependence on Russia. He noted that Moscow uses Belarusian territory to launch drone attacks against Ukraine and as a tool to blackmail Europe and the wider world. According to Zelenskyy, Belarusian industry and trade continue to support the Kremlin’s war effort.
The Lublin Triangle
The Lublin Triangle is a trilateral regional alliance between Ukraine, Poland, and Lithuania, established in July 2020. It aims to strengthen cooperation in political, economic, cultural, and social spheres. The alliance supports Ukraine’s integration into the European Union and NATO, with one of its key objectives being joint resistance to Russian aggression.
Within this framework, Poland and Lithuania consistently support the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. They also call for an end to Russia’s war. The Lublin Triangle countries also assist Ukraine’s defense efforts through equipment supplies and provide support in the energy and humanitarian sectors.
