A meeting between the Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania to the U.S., Gediminas Varvuolis, and representatives of the Ukrainian, Lithuanian, and other communities in Ohio was held in Cleveland. During the event, participants discussed Russia’s war against Ukraine, the security situation in Europe, the role of NATO, and continued support for Ukraine from allies.
This was reported by United Ukrainian Organizations of Ohio (UUOhio).
The June 9 meeting was organized by the United Ukrainian Organizations of Ohio in cooperation with Ingrida Bublis, Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Lithuania to Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio. The event was held at the Calvin Smith Library at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.
The event was opened by UUOhio President Dr. George Jaskiv, who also moderated the discussion. Ambassador Varvuolis presented an analysis of the current situation in Ukraine and Europe, emphasizing the geopolitical consequences of Russian aggression, the role of allies in supporting Kyiv, and the importance of transatlantic unity.
The diplomat paid special attention to Lithuania’s contribution to supporting Ukraine. According to him, the country remains one of the leaders in terms of per capita assistance to Ukraine, providing military, humanitarian, and medical support.
The speech was followed by a question-and-answer session with representatives of civil society organizations, local authorities, and national communities. The event was attended by leaders of the Ukrainian, Lithuanian, Latvian, Estonian, Polish, and Jewish communities in the region.
During the meeting, Dr. Yaskiv presented the ambassador with commemorative gifts on behalf of UUOhio, as well as an official letter of congratulations from U.S. Congress members Marcy Kaptur and Shawntel Brown.
In the letter, the congresswomen thanked the Lithuanian diplomat for his visit to Cleveland and stressed that Kremlin aggression remains one of the greatest threats to transatlantic security. They also stressed the importance of the United States’ continued support for European allies and Ukraine.
Among the participants in the meeting were representatives of the Cleveland City Council, the Ukrainian Medical Association of North America, the Ukrainian Museum Archives of Cleveland, the American Jewish Committee, the Polish American Congress, Global Cleveland, and leaders of the Lithuanian, Latvian, and Estonian communities.
UUOhio noted that the ambassador’s visit was an important opportunity to strengthen cooperation between communities and discuss joint efforts to support Ukraine in the context of the ongoing Russian war.
Background
Gediminas Varvuolis has been the Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania to the United States since August 2025. During his nearly thirty-year diplomatic career, he has worked in NATO structures, headed the direction of transatlantic cooperation and security policy of Lithuania, and was also ambassador to Japan and Belgium. His activities are focused on strengthening international partnerships and security cooperation between democratic states.
Photo: UUOhio
Author: Inna Mikhno