Zelensky meets Lithuania's president as country pledges nearly 100 generators for Ukraine amid Russian strikes

President Volodymyr Zelensky met Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda in Vilnius, Zelensky said on Jan. 25.

The visit came amid continuous Russian attacks on Ukraine's critical infrastructure, which left thousands of Ukrainians without heat, electricity, and water. More than 1,600 residential buildings in Kyiv remain without heat.

According to Zelensky, his discussion with Nauseda focused on support for Ukraine's energy sector and air defense. He added that Lithuania planned to provide Ukrainian cities and communities with nearly 100 generators.

Additionally, they discussed military cooperation, joint defense projects, and Lithuania's proposal to launch a weapons-export platform in Vilnius, support for the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative, and cooperation within the Security Action for Europe (SAFE).

The PURL initiative, launched in August 2025, enables NATO members to buy advanced U.S. weapons for Ukraine. SAFE is a European Union loan instrument meant to bolster the continent's defense industry by financing weapons procurement for eligible countries.

Polish President Karol Nawrocki later joined his counterparts in the Lublin Triangle format—a cooperation platform established by Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine in 2020.

Writing on social media, Zelensky said he had an "important conversation" with the presidents of Lithuania and Poland, during which they discussed, among other things, the development of interceptor drones, Ukraine's accession to the EU, and the recent trilateral peace talks between Kyiv, Moscow, and Washington.

"I thank the people of Lithuania and Poland, the leaders, for all the support for our people, and above all for the energy sector. All help is important and very valuable," Zelensky said.

The meeting was timed to coincide with the anniversary of the January Uprising (1863-64), which holds symbolic significance for the countries. The uprising sought to liberate the peoples of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of Poland from the Russian Empire.

Vilnius and Warsaw have been among Kyiv's staunchest supporters against Russian aggression. According to the Kiel Institute of the World Economy, Lithuania's defense contributions to Ukraine are some the highest in the world in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) shares.

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