Lublin Triangle: Poland and Lithuania provide further military aid to Ukraine

As noted by the Head of State at the meeting with media representatives following the negotiations, the main attention was paid to security issues.

“I have informed our friends of the situation on the frontline and Russia’s preparations for a new escalation at the front. We know what to prepare for, what the terrorist state is preparing for. We will respond. Right now, we are doing our best to ensure that any new escalation brings the end of the terrorist state closer,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized.

The President informed that the leaders had thoroughly discussed the supply of weapons to Ukraine and concrete opportunities to limit the potential of Russian aggression.

Particularly, the Head of State expressed gratitude for the decision of Poland to provide tanks to Ukraine and for the decision of Lithuania to provide anti-aircraft systems that will enhance the protection of the energy system, particularly against the attacks of Iranian drones.

“Ukraine is very grateful to you, friends. I am glad that we are making such decisions in such a format – the Lublin Triangle. It obviously proves by real deeds how important the cooperation of our countries, real friends and partners, is not only for the eastern flank of Europe, but also for our entire Euro-Atlantic coalition of states,” he said.

The President informed his colleagues of the progress in the promotion of the Ukrainian Peace Formula, in the implementation of which more and more figures and states are willing to demonstrate their leadership.

The interlocutors also paid considerable attention to the issue of Ukraine’s integration into the European Union and NATO.

According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, our state is actively preparing for the EU-Ukraine Summit, which is to take place shortly, and for the start of negotiations on EU membership, which should take place this year.

“We are preparing for new steps that will increasingly combine Ukrainian defense experience, our might with the strength of the entire Euro-Atlantic community. The decision of NATO member-states on the launch of the mechanism of accelerated integration of Ukraine into the Alliance – as was the case with Sweden and Finland – would be the most efficient and consistent with the reality and our defense potential,” the President noted.

The Head of State emphasized that Ukraine enjoys full support from Polish and Lithuanian friends on the path of integration into NATO and is looking forward to tangible progress in this direction during the Vilnius Summit of the Alliance in July 2023.

The leaders also discussed cooperation in the protection of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure from Russian attacks, restoration of our energy facilities and strategic issues of energy cooperation between the countries.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Andrzej Duda and Gitanas Nausėda, all Poles and Lithuanians for supporting Ukrainians who found a temporary home and shelter from Russian aggression on Polish and Lithuanian land.

“The Ukrainian people will always remember that you helped us in such a difficult time,” the President emphasized.

For his part, Andrzej Duda noted that the meeting in the format of the Lublin Triangle was another opportunity to consult and coordinate the opportunities for further assistance to Ukraine both at the bilateral level and in the international arena, particularly within the European Union and NATO.

“Poland and Lithuania are members of the EU and NATO, so we can use these formats,” he said.

The Polish President emphasized that since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Russia, his country has provided humanitarian aid and weapons to Ukraine to repel the Russian invasion.

“We know very well what Russian occupation is, because for many years we have not had our own statehood because of Russia. We were under Russian occupation several times, so we will continue to support Ukraine and provide the necessary assistance in the future. We will continue to supply weapons to Ukraine,” Andrzej Duda said.

He noted that Russia intends to continue the war and will systematically take measures to destroy Ukraine – destroy infrastructure and cities. Therefore, Russia must be stopped.

“In order for the Armed Forces to effectively defend Ukraine, they need modern weapons. And these weapons must be transferred to Ukraine,” the President of Poland noted.

He expressed gratitude to the United States for the large-scale defense assistance to Ukraine and stressed the importance for other states, in particular NATO members, to join this support so that the European country could repel the brutal attack by Russia.

Also, according to Andrzej Duda, Poland and Lithuania will continue political support for Ukraine, in particular, they will facilitate the acquisition of full EU membership by our state.

The President of Poland noted the determination of the Ukrainian society to join the European community. Despite the difficult situation in which Ukraine found itself, citizens and authorities demonstrate determination to fulfill all conditions for the rapprochement with the EU standards.

In his turn, Gitanas Nausėda stressed that this war must end with the victory of Ukraine and the aggressor must be held accountable.

“We are doing everything possible to support Ukraine, particularly in the military sphere,” the President of Lithuania said.

Gitanas Nausėda also noted that Lithuania provides military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine in various formats, in particular by transferring generators and organizing projects in support of Ukraine on its territory. Among other things, he mentioned the work of the specially opened Ukrainian Center in Vilnius.

The President of Lithuania has also confirmed that his country and Poland supported Ukraine on the way to the EU candidate status and expressed confidence that the EU would soon have an opportunity to discuss the launch of negotiations on the full-fledged membership of Ukraine at the level of the European Council.

Separately, Gitanas Nausėda touched upon the issue of security guarantees for Ukraine from NATO, which could be provided, in particular, at the next summit, to make Ukraine feel safer and feel the support of the Alliance.

“Today we must admit that the war continues and the territorial integrity of Ukraine is violated. First, it is necessary to restore the territorial integrity of Ukraine. However, Ukraine’s membership in NATO cannot be taken off the agenda. We must agree on the algorithms and formulas to be used in order to move further in this aspect,” the President of Lithuania concluded.

In addition, the leaders of Ukraine and Poland laid flowers at the burial place of the warriors who gave life for the independence of Ukraine, the Memorial of the Ukrainian Galician Army and the Memorial of Lviv Eagles at the Lychakiv Cemetery.

Source – President of Ukraine

Ukraine: President Zelenskyy on Polish and Lithuanian military aid

I wish you health, dear Ukrainians!

Today, here in Lviv, important news for Ukraine was announced during the Summit of the Lublin Triangle, our special format with Poland and Lithuania. Poland has decided to provide tanks for Ukraine – I am grateful for this. I thank President Duda, the Government of Poland, all our Polish friends.

Lithuania provides anti-aircraft systems to our country – the weapons we need to protect ourselves from Iranian drones – to protect our energy sector.

I thank Gitanas for another demonstration of unwavering and principled support for Ukraine, which began even before February 24 and will continue until our victory.

Today, I heard this confidence once again from both Andrzej and Gitanas – we will go all the way together to restore security of Ukraine and the whole of Europe, to restore our territorial integrity, to restore peace. Russian aggression must fail – and it will.

Today, we have discussed the issue of our integration into the EU and NATO in a very meaningful way. This year, we must achieve tangible progress in European integration. This concerns, first of all, the start of negotiations on membership. Poland and Lithuania are equally and comprehensively ready to support us, see us fully integrated into the European and Euro-Atlantic structures. Together with our other partners on the continent and in the Alliance, we have to transform this readiness, this energy into real institutional movement, into real decisions.

Of course, today we also talked about the situation on the battlefield. In particular, that Russian aggression will be depleted only when Russian ambitions have no other alternative except for the defeat. All Russian ambitions – on the front, in politics, in economy, in the legal sphere.

Now the terrorist state and its propagandists are trying to pretend that some part of our city of Soledar – a city that was almost completely destroyed by the occupiers – is allegedly some kind of Russia’s achievement. They will present – and are already presenting – this to their society in such a way as to support mobilization and to give hope to those who support aggression.

But the fighting continues. The Donetsk direction is holding out. And we do everything, without stopping for a single day, to strengthen Ukrainian defense. Our potential is growing. And I thank all our partners who help in this.

Western-type tanks are the work of our entire anti-war coalition and this is a new level of our potential.

Today, in Lviv, I also held a meeting on the security situation in our western regions and on our state border. We take into account all threats, strengthen all elements of the security of our regions.

Glory to all who fight for Ukraine!

I thank everyone who works for our victory!

I thank everyone who helps us restore security!

Glory to Ukraine!

Source – President of Ukraine

Joint declaration of President of Ukraine Zelenskyy, President of Lithuania Nausėda and President of Poland Duda following the Second Summit of the Lublin Triangle

Kyiv, 11 January 2023

Ukraine expects a joint decision of the partner countries on the transfer of modern tanks to strengthen the Armed Forces of Ukraine after the adoption of the relevant important decision by Poland. It was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a meeting with media representatives following the negotiations with the leaders of Poland and Lithuania in the format of the Lublin Triangle in Lviv.

“Indeed, there are very positive signals and very positive decisions. We expect a joint decision. One state cannot help us with “Leopards”, because we are fighting against thousands of tanks of the Russian Federation. Our people have already shown that they are stronger even than Russian tanks. But it seems to me that our partners should cherish our people, as they are a treasure and a potential for victory in this war, and should not be reluctant to transfer this or that number of tanks to our country. I think it will happen,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted, answering questions from the media.

In his turn, President of Poland Andrzej Duda informed that his country had recently decided to transfer “Leopard” tanks to Ukraine.

“They will be provided within the coalition, because you know that it is necessary to obtain certain official consents. But first we need to build an international coalition, and we have decided to form this international coalition,” he said.

Andrzej Duda expressed hope that other countries would shortly provide Ukraine with modern tanks as well.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that our state also hopes for further progress on the path of Euro-Atlantic integration.

“Today, solely support for Ukraine from colleagues in NATO and solely support in the form of rhetoric about open doors is not enough. Namely, it is not enough to motivate our state, and to be even more specific – it is not enough to motivate our warriors. Therefore, we need steps forward. We really expect powerful steps. We expect something more than just open doors,” the Head of State said, answering the question about Ukraine’s expectations from the NATO Summit in July 2023 in Vilnius.

The President of Ukraine emphasized that not just words of support, but concrete actions and assistance of partners encourage Ukrainians to continue the struggle against the Russian aggressor and strengthen our resilience.