Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held talks with Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Ruginiene, who visited Ukraine for the first time in her capacity as head of the Lithuanian government on October 6. The parties focused on issues of defense cooperation and support for the Ukrainian economy during wartime.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Strengthening Defense Potential and Security
The discussions centered on further defense assistance, expanding joint production of weapons, and investments in the domestic defense industry. President Zelensky emphasized the importance of strengthening air defense ahead of the winter period due to increased attacks from the Russian Federation.
“We talked about everything that is critically important right now: further defense assistance, joint weapons production, and investments in the Ukrainian defense industry. Specifically, we discussed energy. Winter is ahead, and Russia is only escalating air terror, striking our cities. Therefore, enhancing our air defense is a priority issue.”
Additionally, the parties discussed Lithuania’s participation in the reconstruction of affected regions in Ukraine, particularly the construction of shelters in schools and kindergartens, which is crucial for ensuring the safety of children during air threats.
Initiatives and Partnership Programs
President Zelensky welcomed Lithuania’s readiness to join the PURL initiative and the SAFE program, and he thanked Vilnius for its significant contribution to military support, co-leadership in demining coalitions, and participation in coalitions for drones, air defense, electronic warfare, artillery, and the IT sector.
Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Ruginiene confirmed during her meeting with Zelensky that the main focus was on Ukraine’s “most urgent needs.” She emphasized the importance of sharing experiences between the defense sectors of both countries and expressed hope for further strengthening the strategic partnership between Ukraine and Lithuania.
Ruginiene took office as the head of the Lithuanian government in August 2025. Her visit to Kyiv was her first foreign visit in her new position. During her stay in Ukraine, she also met with Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko to discuss bilateral relations and joint projects in the fields of security and reconstruction.