Ukraine, Lithuania to strengthen cooperation in countering Russian disinformation, propaganda

That’s according to the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, Ukrinform reports.

The ministry stated that Andrii Nadzhos, Deputy Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications for European Integration, met with Inga Stanyte-Tolockiene, the Ambassador of Lithuania to Ukraine, and Dalia Bankauskaite, an expert from the Ukraine2EU program. During the meeting, the parties discussed deepening cooperation between Ukraine and Lithuania and developing a joint action plan for 2025, particularly in the field of strategic communications.

During the discussion, Nadzhos expressed gratitude to Lithuania for its unwavering support of Ukraine in its struggle against Russian aggression.

He emphasized the importance of uniting efforts to combat disinformation, which the aggressor state uses to manipulate public opinion both in Ukraine and abroad.

“We greatly appreciate that Lithuania has continuously supported Ukraine, not just since the full-scale invasion but since 2014. We must actively counter Russian propaganda. In this context, strategic communication is a crucial element, as it helps enlist the support of the public, partner countries, and the media. That is why we must work together. We must show the world the truth about Ukraine, our culture, and our history,” Nadzhos said.

Stanyte-Tolockiene, in turn, reaffirmed Lithuania’s commitment to remaining a reliable partner of Ukraine. She stressed Lithuania’s readiness to support Ukrainian culture and assist in Ukraine’s efforts to resist Russian aggression.

Both parties noted that Russia continues to spread disinformation in the information space, aiming to justify its military aggression against Ukraine, obscure the true scale of hostilities, and conceal war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The ministry said that countering these threats is one of the main tasks of the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications and the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security. Equally important is developing proactive strategic communications across all government institutions to unite society, position Ukraine effectively on the global stage, and create and promote its own narratives in the international information space.

Additionally, Bankauskaite highlighted the need for an information campaign focused on communicating Ukraine’s European integration efforts.

The participants also discussed funding opportunities, finding new partners, and identifying tools to implement initiatives that will help promote truthful narratives, foster mutual understanding, and facilitate knowledge exchange between the two countries while combating disinformation. Key projects in this effort include “Creative Europe,” organized by the European Union, and “Journalists Matter,” a campaign by the Council of Europe, among others.

Photo credit: Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine