Lithuanian President Nauseda Arrives in Kyiv Ahead of Independence Day

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda arrived in Kyiv on the morning of Sunday, Aug. 23, to participate in the commemorations for Ukraine’s Flag Day and Independence Day. Nausėda announced his arrival on X, outlining his itinerary for the two-day visit. He confirmed he will attend the national holiday events and meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. The Lithuanian president also noted that he plans to hold discussions with allies from the Nordic-Baltic region and participate in the upcoming meeting of the Coalition of the Willing. “Standing with Ukraine today – as it marks National days – and always,” Nausėda wrote. Just arrived in Kyiv.Over the next two days, I will join Ukraine’s Flag Day and Independence Day events, meet President @ZelenskyyUa and take part in discussions with our Nordic-Baltic allies and the meeting of the Coalition of the Willing.Standing with Ukraine today - as it… pic.twitter.com/FZ6IzPFh7D— Gitanas Nausėda (@GitanasNauseda) August 23, 2026 Diplomatic gatherings ahead of Independence Day Nausėda’s arrival aligns with a broader gathering of international officials in the Ukrainian capital ahead of the country’s 35th Independence Day on Monday, Aug. 24. Around 10 foreign leaders are expected in Kyiv for the commemorations, which will coincide with a scheduled meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, a group of nations coordinating support for Ukraine. The hybrid meeting will be co-chaired by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, and French President Emmanuel Macron, who will participate via video link. European Council President António Costa is also expected to attend, following the recent opening of EU accession negotiations with Ukraine. The diplomatic arrivals began on Saturday, Aug. 22, with the visit of German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, who told journalists he chose to visit ahead of the anniversary to demonstrate Germany’s continued support. Other Topics of Interest Zelensky, Macron Agree on Missile Supplies and Production Licenses President Volodymyr Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed to accelerate the delivery of advanced military equipment and missiles. During his visit, Wadephul emphasized the need to prepare Ukraine and its infrastructure for the upcoming winter, noting that he and his French counterpart, Jean-Noël Barrot, had sent a written appeal to multiple countries requesting assistance. Wadephul also stressed the importance of a united European stance and stated that while Germany is ready to support Ukraine in potential future negotiations with Russia, continued support for Kyiv remains necessary for those negotiations to take place. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.