Entire new Lithuanian government arrives in Kyiv

, 20 December 2024, 12:35 - Ulyana Krychkovska

Lithuania's new Cabinet of Ministers arrived in Kyiv on Friday, 20 December.

"The entire Lithuanian government is in Ukraine today to send a clear message – we will stand with Ukraine until victory!" Kęstutis Budrys, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, said.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania reports that the morning of 20 December in Kyiv began with a Russian missile attack, which became a reminder of the brutal nature of this war.

Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas said it was a privilege and honour to be in Kyiv during his first visit to the country.

"At Kyiv’s Wall of Remembrance, with my Cabinet of Ministers, I paid my respects to the fallen heroes of Ukraine, men and women who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of their country, and by that – for the freedom of Europe," Gintautas Paluckas said.

Delfi, a Baltic states news website, reported that only Finance Minister Rimantas Šadžius did not go to Ukraine out of the entire Cabinet.

As reported, the Lithuanian government will meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the prime minister, the speaker of the parliament and the minister of foreign affairs.

Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal informed about the start of intergovernmental consultations with his Lithuanian counterparts. 

Photo: Telegram

"We have a rich agenda for discussion: defence and security of Europe, Ukraine's membership in the EU and NATO, the recovery programme, further strengthening of sanctions against Russia and confiscation of Russian frozen assets, as well as our economic and trade cooperation," Denys Shmyhal said.