Zelensky thanks Poles, Lithuanians for their solidarity, support for Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked the Polish and Lithuanian people for their solidarity and support for Ukraine in the light of Russian aggression against the country.

The head of state said this in a letter to the participants in the Warsaw celebrations on the occasion of the 160th anniversary of the January Uprising, which was read out by the Ambassador of Ukraine to Poland, Vasyl Zvarych, in the presence of Presidents Andrzej Duda and Gitanas Nauseda, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

Zelensky noted in the letter that this event is important in the common history of the Ukrainian, Polish and Lithuanian peoples, "the powerful symbolism of which is particularly relevant."

He said that 160 years ago, the peoples of the three countries united their efforts, standing side by side against Russian imperialism and tyranny. According to him, the January Uprising of 1863-1864 accelerated the national revival and liberation movement on the territory of present-day Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania.

"Today, honoring the memory of the January insurgents, we feel unity and a special historical connection with our predecessors, who then bravely stood up for the defense of freedom and independence. Similarly, now Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania have united in opposing armed aggression by Russia, which has challenged the security of the whole of Europe and the world by attacking Ukraine," the letter read.

Zelensky expressed gratitude for the unwavering support and solidarity of Polish and Lithuanian friends who set an example of leadership in defending common European values.

"Today, together with you, we are writing a new history of the struggle for the independence of our states and the entire united Europe. And I am convinced that this struggle will be successful in the name of the January insurgents and all generations of the Ukrainian, Polish, and Lithuanian peoples, who for centuries fought for their right to live freely on their land," the letter reads.

The January Uprising is an uprising of 1863–1864 on the lands of the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Ukrainians, Lithuanians and Belarusians took part in the uprising together with the Poles. The uprising was a guerrilla war during which more than 1,000 battles and skirmishes took place. It ended with the defeat of the insurgents.

Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine