The Ministers of Culture of Lithuania and Ukraine discussed cooperation in the fields of heritage preservation and information resilience
Lithuania’s support for Ukraine’s cultural heritage, the improvement of specialists’ qualifications and joint efforts to strengthen information resilience were the main topics highlighted at today’s meeting of the Ministers of Culture of Lithuania and Ukraine, Šarūnas Birutis and Mykola Tochytskyi, in Vilnius. The meeting is a part of a broader programme of the visit of the Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, which includes visits to important cultural sites of Lithuania, a trilateral meeting with the Minister of Culture of Latvia Agnese Lāce, and participation in the opening of an exhibition dedicated to the jubilee year of M. K. Čiurlionis in Kaunas.
“In the current geopolitical situation, when Ukraine is heroically defending not only its freedom, but also the values of the entire Western civilisation, it is particularly important to strengthen the information resilience of society and foster critical thinking,” emphasised Š. Birutis at the beginning of the meeting. – This is an integral part of our common defence and security. We firmly support Ukraine in this struggle and we also undertake to more closely mobilise the Lithuanian society, cherish our identity and update our historical memory, develop the narratives of the history of our region.”
The conversation focused on Lithuania’s support to Ukraine in the fields of culture and related fields. Š. Birutis stressed that Lithuania strongly supports the crucial role of culture in Ukraine’s resilience, recovery and integration into the European Union (EU). He outlined the initiatives of Lithuania: direct support for the preservation of Ukraine’s cultural heritage (more than 1500 evacuated Ukrainian cultural heritage objects are currently being preserved, restored and presented to the public in Lithuania), and capacity-building of Ukrainian specialists through the ongoing training programmes. The importance of cultural exchanges and strategic partnership was underlined: Lithuania’s support for Ukraine’s EU integration in the cultural and media sectors, cooperation with UNESCO and other international formats.
The Ministers also discussed emergency preparedness in the field of cultural heritage. Lithuania has drawn up lists of the most important cultural heritage sites, is in the process of designating cultural heritage sites with the Hague Convention Blue Shield, and updating of its contingency plans.
M. Tochytskyj, the Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, stressed the importance of such lists, as the theft of cultural artefacts and their removal to the aggressor country to replenish its treasure funds is a daily occurrence in Ukraine. “It is difficult to protect all this, so we are grateful to Lithuania and other countries for the joint exhibitions where our cultural funds are displayed and, at the same time, preserved,” he said, stressing that in times of war, evacuation of valuables is always on the table and the complexity of this issue is not only about finances, but also about time and the need for specialists.
M. Tochytskyj also shared the experience of his Ministry in ensuring the information resilience of society, strategic communication through culture and identity building. He said that the war situation had increased the reading and historical interest of the population, and that the Ministry’s efforts were being felt: Ukrainians were now much more resistant to disinformation attacks and threats than they had been before.
M. Tochytskyj, the Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, continued his visit and visited Pranas Gudynas Conservation Centre, the Greek Catholic Church of the Holy Trinity and the House of History of the National Museum of Lithuania, where he views the international exhibition "Kyivan Rus’. Origins”.
On Thursday afternoon, a tripartite meeting of the Ministers of Culture of Lithuania, Ukraine and Latvia is scheduled to take place at Pažaislis Monastery. In the evening, the Ministers will attend the international exhibition “From Ambers to the Stars: Together with M. K. Čiurlionis: Now and Then” at M. K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Art dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the birth of the artist and composer.
Photo by Gintarė Grigėnaitė
Last updated: 22-04-2025