We will do our utmost to help you join EU, Lithuanian president tells Ukrainians

VILNIUS - As Ukraine marks the 10th anniversary of the Maidan Uprising, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda addressed the Ukrainian people and stressed that Lithuania would do everything to help Kyiv join the European Union.

"Despite Russia's brutal war of aggression, Ukraine is moving ever closer to Europe. The start of EU accession negotiations in December is another important milestone. The people of Lithuania will be waiting for you. We will support you and will do our utmost to help you join the European Union and NATO," the Lithuanian president said.

In his address, he stressed that 10 years ago, "rising up to defend their European choice, united in the name of justice, freedom and democracy", the Ukrainians proved that they are an unstoppable force.

The Maidan protests erupted in late 2013 when the then Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych refused to sign an EU association agreement. A war with pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine and Russia's annexation of Crimea followed. Eventually, the Kremlin staged a large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Earlier this month, the European Commission recommended that EU member states open formal accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova and proposed granting candidate status to Georgia.