“It was a very important meeting with President Viktor Yanukovych, a continuation of our nice tradition of bilateral cooperation. Also, the Council of the Presidents of Lithuania and Ukraine met for its fourth session today. I and the Ukrainian President signed the Roadmap for Development of the Strategic Partnership between Lithuania and Ukraine for 2011-2012,” President Dalia Grybauskaitė said.

Discussing bilateral cooperation in economic matters and transport, the President drew the Ukrainian President's attention that the shuttle-train Viking running between Klaipėda and Odessa seaports opened up good opportunities to expand freight transportation between the Baltic and Black Sea regions. However, according to the President, due to complicated customs procedures and existence of only one destination station in Ukraine, the train does not function to its full capacity in Ukraine.

“Efficient functioning of the Viking train would allow attracting more freight from Caucasus, Turkey and Nordic countries, which are already showing interest in such possibilities. We discussed with the Ukrainian President the problems that have emerged, and agreed to make joint efforts to solve them so that the Viking project could produce the maximum benefit,” President Dalia Grybauskaitė said.

President Dalia Grybauskaitė invited Ukraine's power suppliers to come to Lithuania's power market. Lithuania's and Ukraine's Presidents intend to start talks with Belarus about the possibility to import electricity and other energy resources from Ukraine to Lithuania through Belarus.

The Presidents also discussed Ukraine's euroingeration process. The President of Lithuania underlined that the European Union was interested in successful implementation of political reforms in Ukraine and that it urged to follow the principles of transparency and democracy. The Presidents agreed to continue cooperation on this issue, particularly by sharing Lithuania's experience of negotiations with the EU.

“I wish Ukraine - as it negotiates with the European Union - to go the same way of structural reforms as Lithuania did. To achieve a deeper European integration, Ukraine must prepare successfully for the conclusion of a free trade agreement and later the association agreement with the EU. Lithuania is ready to help Ukraine to get closer to the European Union by sharing its experience, resources and support,” President Dalia Grybauskaitė said.

According to the Lithuanian President, Lithuania appreciates Ukraine's role in ensuring security in the region and its participation in the international mission in Afghanistan, especially in the Ghor Province where it assists Lithuania in its province reconstruction efforts. According to the President, this is an example of the real bilateral strategic partnership.