Thanks to the January Uprising, we can call things by name – aggression is aggression and freedom is freedom – president Karol Nawrocki emphasized during a speech in the Vilnius Cathedral. The president took part in a gathering of the leaders of Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine as part of the Lublin Triangle and celebrations of the 163rd anniversary of the outbreak of the January Uprising.
Russia – regardless of the strategy and era – remains a permanent threat to Central and east Europe," said Karol Nawrocki, stressing that the problem of Russian force remains the same – from the Tsar, through the USSR, to the times of Vladimir Putin. Therefore, he noted that regional cooperation formats and the strong voice of Central and east Europe on the global phase are crucial. In this context, the Presidents agreed on the importance of transatlantic relations and cooperation with the US, both in military and economical terms.
Volodymyr Zelenski appealed to keep sanctions force on Russia, including halting Russian oil exports and blocking Kremlin propaganda. Lithuanian president Gitanas Nausėda pointed out that a possible peace agreement must warrant Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and the deployment of European armed forces with US support could effectively deter Russia.
The gathering was preceded by celebrations commemorating the January Uprising. Leaders consistently emphasized his moral and symbolic meaning. Nawrocki spoke of "the triumph of the spirit" which allowed the peoples of the region to keep their identity and regain independence. Zelenski stressed the community of destiny of Poles, Lithuanians, Ukrainians and Belarusians, convincing that only together they could accomplish lasting success.
