Lithuanian Embassy in Athens Hosts Friends of Ukraine Meeting
On 21 October, the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Greece hosted a meeting of the Friends of Ukraine group, bringing together Heads and Deputy Heads of Diplomatic Missions in Athens representing Ukraine, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Denmark, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, Norway and Poland, as well as Jonas Öhman, co-founder and Chairman of the Board of the Lithuanian non-governmental organisation Blue/Yellow.
This was the first meeting of this format organised by the Lithuanian Embassy in Greece, aimed at strengthening cooperation among countries supporting Ukraine and coordinating further political and practical assistance to Ukraine in its resistance against Russian aggression.
Welcoming the participants, Lithuania's Ambassador to Greece, Andrius Kalindra, emphasised that supporting Ukraine is not only an expression of solidarity with a country under attack, but also a shared commitment to defending the fundamental principles of international law, national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“Ukraine is fighting not only for its own freedom and independence, but also for the security of Europe as a whole. Therefore, our unity, determination and practical support for Ukraine must remain strong and sustained,” Ambassador Kalindra stated.
The Ambassador also recalled that Lithuania will assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on 1 January 2027. Strengthening European security and defence, as well as ensuring continued comprehensive support for Ukraine, will be among the key priorities of Lithuania's Presidency.
In this context, Ambassador Kalindra referred to the messages delivered by Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda during his visit to Athens on 5 October, highlighting the need to strengthen Europe's defence capabilities, maintain steadfast support for Ukraine, enhance Europe's resilience to security threats and advance Ukraine's European integration.
During the meeting, Oleksandr Kravchenko, Chargé d'Affaires of Ukraine in Greece, was invited to provide an overview of the situation in Ukraine, the country's most pressing needs and the importance of continued international support.
Jonas Öhman, representing Blue/Yellow, was invited to share the organisation's experience of providing practical assistance to Ukraine for more than a decade, highlighting the importance of supporting Ukraine's defenders and the role of civil society in mobilising and delivering assistance.
The meeting provided an opportunity for representatives of the diplomatic community to exchange views on further cooperation, the importance of sustaining support for Ukraine and the need for more effective coordination among international partners.
The Embassy of Lithuania in Greece will continue to actively contribute to strengthening cooperation among countries supporting Ukraine, ensuring that political solidarity is consistently translated into concrete and effective assistance to Ukraine.
