Lietuvos Respublikos Prezidentas

08/24/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/24/2026 11:46

Speech by First Lady Diana Nausėdienė at the Sixth Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen in Kyiv, “World 2026: Finding Stability in Times of Uncertainty”

Distinguished Guests, dear Colleagues,

Дорога Олено, брати та сестри українці!

"Духом не впадеш, силою взяти не зможуть."
If your spirit remains unbroken, no force shall prevail against you.

Today, here in Kyiv, the world is witnessing the stoic and unbreakable will of a heroic sovereign nation. We are commemorating the precious Independence Day of Ukraine.

The unconquerable spirit of those who defend the freedom of their Homeland is a force that even the armies of the greatest empires cannot overcome.

The resistance of each and every one of us to aggression matters.

Each person's resilience and commitment to defending justice, humanistic principles, and democratic values matters.

Everyone of us, every righteous defender, stands as a powerful warrior for justice.

You and your personal stand matter.

The Gate to Glory of Just Victory is society's Spirit of resilience and commitment to true values.

Allow me to share a fact from the history of my country's struggle for freedom. The first public protest against the Soviet occupation of Lithuania in 1940 came from thousands of Lithuanian teachers.

At the end of that summer of occupation, the puppet government gathered them at the Kaunas arena. The occupiers demanded that, from the new school year, teachers begin instilling a "soviet spirit" in their pupils. But instead of compliance, the Lithuanian teachers rose up together and sang not the anthem of the regime - their ideological tool - but the anthem of independent Lithuania.

At that time, many Lithuanian teachers were also members of the šauliai - the Riflemen's Union - the largest and the most popular civic organization in Lithuania.

The founder of the Union was Vladas Putvinskis, a descendant of an old Lithuanian family and a nobleman. He passionately promoted a unique ethic of the šauliai devoted to the defence of the homeland. In his view, a rifleman must not only strengthen body and will, not only educate oneself, but also enlighten others - shine bright for society. " The founder and first leader of the Union emphasized: "šauliai must cultivate aristocrats of the spirit".

In 1923, the representative of independent Ukraine, Kupchenko, speaking at a congress of the Lithuanian Riflemen's Union highlighted the unity of unbreakable and invincible rifleman's spirit, which was truly alive among the Ukrainian nation as well. And still is.

The cultural and patriotic work of the šauliai was just as important as preparation for armed defence. Across the country, there were 85 riflemen's halls, 139 choirs, 126 brass bands, 114 sports clubs, 332 libraries, 15 theatres, and 414 drama clubs. A dense network of the šauliai units brought together 154 thousand women and men during interwar Lithuania - an impressive number not only for Lithuania, but also for the whole Europe at that time.

We did not surrender our Souls to the occupiers.

Although the Soviets seized our country in 1940, we never lost what mattered most. The high cultural level of national consciousness and ideals, societal resilience in the face of evil - all that embodies the šauliai mindset. It remained alive. The conviction that a decent, dignified, high-quality life, a culture of social maturity, and Western European civilizational values must be defended also remained alive.

This inspired armed and unarmed resistance of Lithuanian society to the Soviet occupation after the Second World War. It helped us to resist ideological and systemic oppression, to survive horrific exiles to Siberia, to develop our national DNA of resistance. Ideals of the šauliai, their faith and noble spirit taught us all not to break, but how to persist and still to grow in hard times.

In 1988, the nation's aspiration for freedom gave rise to Sąjūdis movement. In 1990, we restored the independent State of Lithuania.

That's why we emphasize the word šauliai, which in Lithuania symbolizes a long-standing tradition of civic society and responsibility - continuous determination of citizens to defend their freedom and independence.

Today, the šauliai - the Lithuanian Riflemen's Union - is a steadily growing organization of responsible citizens and a civic initiative committed to defending freedom.

History teaches us that in today's difficult reality, three words hold deepsignificance for us: šauliai, unity, and humanistic culture.

Let me speak of the strength of Lithuania - its people - and the principles of the society we seek to build:

We do not destroy.
We do not rob.
We do not rape.

We create.
We strive to succeed.
And we stand for Life.

As the First Lady of Lithuania, the spouse of the State Leader - the Lithuanian President, - I am personally proud to stand for the goals of our independent state, and in every step I take, to stand for what truly matters in our lives:

for the happiness of our children, families, and communities;
for the prosperity and well-being of our Independent state.

Everything that stands against war, against aggression, against destruction defines us - the citizens of Lithuania. We are the people who respect law and honour. We build, we create, we protect. We always rise up. And we stand with Ukraine - for Justice and for Life.

In 2014, the šauliai, established an official branch of their organization - the Lithuanian Riflemen's Union Support Group for Ukraine. This group works on resilience of societies and communities. Collects and delivers aid to the heroes. Helps the people of Ukraine receiving treatment in Lithuania. Supports children. Develops educational programmes for youth.

Our unity and the strength of national resilience for resisting the empire of evil is rooted in our history and vital for the cruel reality.

What distinguishes us from the aggressors is our mindset, our goals, and our aspirations. It is our spirit as a society and our creative potential. It is our tradition of state-minded thinking, reflected in the meaningful word šauliai.

May the word šauliai call upon all of us to defend humanity and to uphold the sacred duty to protect the wisdom of our ancestors and our homelands.

Let us stand together for life.

"Духом не впадеш, силою взяти не зможуть."
If your spirit remains unbroken, no force shall prevail against you.

Slava Ukraini!

The President's Communication Group
Last updated 2026.08.24 20:35

Distinguished Guests, dear Colleagues,

Дорога Олено, брати та сестри українці!

"Духом не впадеш, силою взяти не зможуть."
If your spirit remains unbroken, no force shall prevail against you.

Today, here in Kyiv, the world is witnessing the stoic and unbreakable will of a heroic sovereign nation. We are commemorating the precious Independence Day of Ukraine.

The unconquerable spirit of those who defend the freedom of their Homeland is a force that even the armies of the greatest empires cannot overcome.

The resistance of each and every one of us to aggression matters.

Each person's resilience and commitment to defending justice, humanistic principles, and democratic values matters.

Everyone of us, every righteous defender, stands as a powerful warrior for justice.

You and your personal stand matter.

The Gate to Glory of Just Victory is society's Spirit of resilience and commitment to true values.

Allow me to share a fact from the history of my country's struggle for freedom. The first public protest against the Soviet occupation of Lithuania in 1940 came from thousands of Lithuanian teachers.

At the end of that summer of occupation, the puppet government gathered them at the Kaunas arena. The occupiers demanded that, from the new school year, teachers begin instilling a "soviet spirit" in their pupils. But instead of compliance, the Lithuanian teachers rose up together and sang not the anthem of the regime - their ideological tool - but the anthem of independent Lithuania.

At that time, many Lithuanian teachers were also members of the šauliai - the Riflemen's Union - the largest and the most popular civic organization in Lithuania.

The founder of the Union was Vladas Putvinskis, a descendant of an old Lithuanian family and a nobleman. He passionately promoted a unique ethic of the šauliai devoted to the defence of the homeland. In his view, a rifleman must not only strengthen body and will, not only educate oneself, but also enlighten others - shine bright for society. " The founder and first leader of the Union emphasized: "šauliai must cultivate aristocrats of the spirit".

In 1923, the representative of independent Ukraine, Kupchenko, speaking at a congress of the Lithuanian Riflemen's Union highlighted the unity of unbreakable and invincible rifleman's spirit, which was truly alive among the Ukrainian nation as well. And still is.

The cultural and patriotic work of the šauliai was just as important as preparation for armed defence. Across the country, there were 85 riflemen's halls, 139 choirs, 126 brass bands, 114 sports clubs, 332 libraries, 15 theatres, and 414 drama clubs. A dense network of the šauliai units brought together 154 thousand women and men during interwar Lithuania - an impressive number not only for Lithuania, but also for the whole Europe at that time.

We did not surrender our Souls to the occupiers.

Although the Soviets seized our country in 1940, we never lost what mattered most. The high cultural level of national consciousness and ideals, societal resilience in the face of evil - all that embodies the šauliai mindset. It remained alive. The conviction that a decent, dignified, high-quality life, a culture of social maturity, and Western European civilizational values must be defended also remained alive.

This inspired armed and unarmed resistance of Lithuanian society to the Soviet occupation after the Second World War. It helped us to resist ideological and systemic oppression, to survive horrific exiles to Siberia, to develop our national DNA of resistance. Ideals of the šauliai, their faith and noble spirit taught us all not to break, but how to persist and still to grow in hard times.

In 1988, the nation's aspiration for freedom gave rise to Sąjūdis movement. In 1990, we restored the independent State of Lithuania.

That's why we emphasize the word šauliai, which in Lithuania symbolizes a long-standing tradition of civic society and responsibility - continuous determination of citizens to defend their freedom and independence.

Today, the šauliai - the Lithuanian Riflemen's Union - is a steadily growing organization of responsible citizens and a civic initiative committed to defending freedom.

History teaches us that in today's difficult reality, three words hold deepsignificance for us: šauliai, unity, and humanistic culture.

Let me speak of the strength of Lithuania - its people - and the principles of the society we seek to build:

We do not destroy.
We do not rob.
We do not rape.

We create.
We strive to succeed.
And we stand for Life.

As the First Lady of Lithuania, the spouse of the State Leader - the Lithuanian President, - I am personally proud to stand for the goals of our independent state, and in every step I take, to stand for what truly matters in our lives:

for the happiness of our children, families, and communities;
for the prosperity and well-being of our Independent state.

Everything that stands against war, against aggression, against destruction defines us - the citizens of Lithuania. We are the people who respect law and honour. We build, we create, we protect. We always rise up. And we stand with Ukraine - for Justice and for Life.

In 2014, the šauliai, established an official branch of their organization - the Lithuanian Riflemen's Union Support Group for Ukraine. This group works on resilience of societies and communities. Collects and delivers aid to the heroes. Helps the people of Ukraine receiving treatment in Lithuania. Supports children. Develops educational programmes for youth.

Our unity and the strength of national resilience for resisting the empire of evil is rooted in our history and vital for the cruel reality.

What distinguishes us from the aggressors is our mindset, our goals, and our aspirations. It is our spirit as a society and our creative potential. It is our tradition of state-minded thinking, reflected in the meaningful word šauliai.

May the word šauliai call upon all of us to defend humanity and to uphold the sacred duty to protect the wisdom of our ancestors and our homelands.

Let us stand together for life.

"Духом не впадеш, силою взяти не зможуть."
If your spirit remains unbroken, no force shall prevail against you.

Slava Ukraini!

The President's Communication Group
Last updated 2026.08.24 20:35

Lietuvos Respublikos Prezidentas published this content on August 24, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on August 24, 2026 at 17:46 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]