VILNIUS — The metropolis’s partitions had been plastered in blue and yellow posters, streets teemed with Ukrainian flags, and locals commiserated with their very own reminiscences of Russian imperialism. Kyiv couldn’t have requested for a friendlier metropolis than the Lithuanian capital to make its case to hitch NATO.
Before assembly with NATO leaders for dinner on Tuesday night, Volodymyr Zelenskyy appeared at Lukiškės Square in central Vilnius, the place hundreds of locals loudly cheered him on and waved Ukrainian and Lithuanian flags.
“Thanks Lithuania, thank you very much,” Zelenskyy stated in English to loud applause, earlier than persevering with in Ukrainian to name for extra help and a swift NATO accession by his nation.
“It was very emotional,” stated Karolina Vitonienė, who watched alongside mates and her daughter.
“We understand that they [the Ukrainians] are fighting for our freedom as well,” the Vilnius resident stated. “Each of us remembers what it’s like to live under occupation, or knows the stories from their families … That’s why Zelenskyy’s speech had such a strong impact.”
Vitonienė, who’s now 37, stated she had a dream when she was 5 years outdated, {that a} Russian tank may roll over her dwelling. She regarded down at her daughter and stated: “We want our children to have a future in which there are no dreams about tanks.”
While NATO leaders didn’t give Ukraine the clear path to future membership that Zelenskyy pushed for, he did obtain broad safety guarantees from numerous nations — and this very welcoming reception.
The summit introduced leaders from the alliance’s 31 member states and others, like Zelenskyy, to the Lithuanian capital of about 600,000 inhabits, inflicting roadblocks and visitors jams within the picturesque metropolis middle and on highways. Still, locals welcomed the occasion.
“It definitely puts us on the world map. Everybody is now talking about us,” stated Viltaras Krisciunas from Vilnius, who watched Zelenskyy’s speech within the sq. alongside his spouse Giedre, wrapping large Lithuanian flags round their our bodies.
Oksana Baitala, a younger lady from the Lviv area of western Ukraine, who now lives in Lithuania, watched along with her mom, Uliana. She stated she was grateful for the help and the solidarity of the Lithuanian and European individuals.
Even although the summit led to no clear NATO membership perspective for Ukraine, Baitala stated she was optimistic the summit marked a historic second.
Rytis Povilaitis from Vilnius, who wore a shirt with the American Himars missile launcher displayed throughout it, stated it was spectacular that Zelenskyy — the chief of a rustic at struggle whom Russia is making an attempt to execute — delivered a speech in entrance of hundreds of individuals out of the country.
“The most important thing for me was when Volodymyr said that when Ukraine steps into NATO, it will make NATO more powerful,” he stated. “I think he was more than right.”
