Four-Headed Meeting Heads to Kaunas
On Thursday evening, Polish President Andrzej Duda travels to Lithuania where he will join leaders from Lithuania, Latvia, and Romania on Friday. The gathering also includes participation in an international conference titled The Idea of Europe, organized by Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas.
Presidential Visit and Agenda
The visit is framed as a working session. The day begins with a wreath-laying ceremony on Friday morning at the memorial dedicated to Fr. Antoni Mackiewicz, a key figure associated with the January Uprising in Lithuania.
Following the ceremony, Duda will be welcomed by Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda at Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas before 10 a.m. He is slated to open the The Idea of Europe conference, which is part of the Kaunas 2022 European Capital of Culture celebrations. Duda is also expected to speak at a presidential panel during the event.
A roundtable including the presidents of Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, and Romania is scheduled for around noon, with the leaders then addressing the media. In the afternoon, they will attend a working breakfast hosted by President Nausėda.
Jakub Kumoch, the head of the Presidential Office for International Policy, noted in a briefing that The Idea of Europe conference focuses on Europe’s future and the regional role of its member states.
The participants are clear on their stance regarding Ukraine, with the gathering serving as a consultative meeting for the region in light of current events, including intensified bombardments. Kumoch emphasized this context while outlining the conference’s broader aims.
Poland’s Role and Regional Impact
Kumoch described Poland as a crucial link that strengthens regional cooperation. He indicated that the summit will provide a platform to discuss Poland’s support for Ukraine and the potential implications, including reactions to recent developments tied to Poland’s regional leadership in security matters.
The official also highlighted Poland’s active engagement with Baltic states during the conflict and its collaboration with the Czech Republic and Slovakia. He noted that Romania and Poland are central pillars within the Bucharest Nine, a format through which regional leaders coordinate their efforts to assist Ukraine.
When asked about the conference topics, Kumoch said the discussion would cover the consequences of Russian aggression and the winter outlook, including energy supply challenges. He stressed that Europe must respond effectively to the Ukraine crisis, recognizing the various signals from Russian sources about a difficult winter ahead.