Lithuania’s President Returns to Kyiv for Independence Day and Security Talks

LITHUANIA’S PRESIDENT RETURNS TO KYIV FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY AND SECURITY TALKS

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda has arrived in Kyiv for a two-day visit marking Ukraine’s Flag Day and the 35th anniversary of its independence.

This is Nausėda’s first confirmed visit to Kyiv in approximately 18 months. He last came on February 24, 2025, for the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, when Lithuania announced the delivery of RBS-70 short-range air-defense systems.

Nausėda will meet President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, hold discussions with Nordic and Baltic allies and participate in a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing. Leaders and senior officials from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia and Norway have also arrived in the capital.

This is more than a ceremonial visit. Ukraine’s partners are gathering in Kyiv to coordinate military support, future security guarantees and continued pressure on Russia.

Lithuania has remained among Ukraine’s most dependable allies—and Nausėda’s presence during Ukraine’s national holidays carries both political and deeply personal meaning.