Speaker of the Seimas Saulius Skvernelis after the meeting with Ruslan Stefanchuk, Chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament: ‘Any agreement reached between the US and Russia in Alaska must uphold Ukraine’s sovereignty’

Press release, 12 August 2025 (News ● Photos ● Broadcasts and videos)

In the run-up to the talks between the US and Russia scheduled later this week in Alaska, this morning, Saulius Skvernelis, Speaker of the Seimas, and Ruslan Stefanchuk, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, had an online meeting. They discussed matters of inter-parliamentary cooperation, assistance to Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s aggression, as well as the ensuring of regional security. 

Mr Skvernelis and Mr Stefanchuk also discussed the joint declaration on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine signed today by the Speakers of the Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian Parliaments.

The Speaker of the Seimas underlined that Lithuania maintained its principled stance on Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity and assured that, in accordance with the Seimas resolution of 8 May 2025 on Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, Lithuania would never recognise, either de jure or de facto, any seizures of Ukraine’s territory carried out by the Russian Federation.

As regards international peace efforts, leaders of the two Parliaments discussed the upcoming talks between the US and Russia scheduled in Alaska later this week. The Speaker of the Seimas highlighted that the Speakers of the Lithuanian, Latvian, and Estonian Parliaments share a common position asserting that any agreement reached this week in the Alaska talks or later must unequivocally defend Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, Constitution, as well as the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, and that Ukrainians must be involved in decisions concerning Ukraine.

‘Diplomatic decisions cannot be made at Ukraine’s expense; they can only be made with Ukraine’s full participation and consent, aiming to achieve a lasting peace which is based on international law,’ Mr Skvernelis said.

Ramunė Muzikevičiūtė-Narmontienė, Adviser to the Speaker of the Seimas for Communication mob. +370 611 08125; e-mail: [email protected]