Lithuania’s Seimas Speaker Visits Kyiv to Advance Sanctions Push and Defense Cooperation

Overview

• Juozas Olekas made his first visit in his current role, meeting President Volodymyr Zelensky and Verkhovna Rada Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk.
• Kyiv and Vilnius coordinated on the European Union’s 20th sanctions package, with priorities that include Russia’s banking sector, the shadow fleet, propagandists, and preventing evasion.
• The talks covered implementing the PURL and SAFE initiatives, prospects for joint weapons production, and Lithuanian investment in Ukraine’s defense industry.
• Stefanchuk cited Lithuania’s cumulative assistance exceeding €1.8 billion, while Zelensky praised military aid set at 0.25% of Lithuania’s budget and noted continued support into next year.
• The sides agreed to intensify parliamentary cooperation to speed EU accession and bolster NATO aspirations, and Olekas accepted an invitation to the International Crimea Platform summit in Stockholm on November 23–24.