Kyiv, August 23: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday praised the Baltic states for standing with Ukraine in its war against Russia, drawing parallels to their own historic struggle for freedom.
In a post on X, Zelenskyy recalled the 1989 “Baltic Way” protest, where citizens of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia formed a human chain to demand independence from Soviet rule. “We remember the longing for freedom that Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian people demonstrated with the Baltic Way. We honor the unity these nations showed in defending their right to freedom and independence,” he wrote.
“And today we highly appreciate the genuine solidarity of the Baltic states, in the face of dumb Russian imperialism,” he added. “Just as you have, we are defending the right of our state and our people to independent life, and against the Russian attempt to subjugate us. Together we will return durable peace and uphold human dignity on the European continent.”
Earlier, Zelenskyy spoke with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof on the occasion of Ukraine’s National Flag Day. The two leaders discussed US and European security guarantees, as well as investments in Ukraine’s defense industry.
“Today is a very special day in Ukraine – National Flag Day. Thank you, Dick, for your important and warm words of support to our people, to all Ukrainians. We greatly value the assistance of the Netherlands and the solidarity of the Dutch people,” Zelenskyy said.
He added that both sides were preparing agreements and a meeting in the near future.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump renewed a warning to Moscow on Friday, threatening sanctions if no progress is made toward a peaceful settlement in Ukraine within two weeks. The statement came just a week after his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, however, dismissed prospects of a summit between Putin and Zelenskyy, accusing the Ukrainian leader of rejecting talks. “There is no agenda for such a meeting. He says ‘no’ to everything,” Lavrov said, as reported by Al Jazeera.
