The conference was organized by Vytautas Magnus University in cooperation with the Lithuanian Institute of History and the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland. Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis is attending the conference, during which Lithuanian, Russian, Polish, Ukrainian and Moldovan historians evaluate and discuss the military and political significance of the battle, the place and significance of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the Central Eastern European region.
The Lithuanian army led by Grand Duke Algirdas defeated the army of the Golden Horde in 1362. The battle was the Mongol Tatar army's first defeat in Eastern Europe, and it strengthened the Grand Duchy of Lithuania's position in lands previously ownen by Kievan Rus and led the Grand Duchy of Lithuania to becoming the largest state in Europe at the time.
The Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the battle was also an important factor in forming Ukraine's European identity.
Earlier this week, Lithuania's government approved an action plan to commemorate the 650th anniversary of the battle.
Ukraine now and 650 years ago
Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis has compared the existing situation in Ukraine with circumstances in the region before the Battle of Blue Waters in 1362.
"When we talk about the Battle of Blue Waters, we talk about instability of the Ukrainian civilization, about a period of "threshold" to European evolution and culture. It's a shame that in some way it resembles the risky threshold Ukraine is standing at today," Ažubalis said on Thursday at the international conference.
The minister highlighted Lithuania's strong and centuries-long support for Ukraine's aspirations to remain part of Europe.
"Historically and now, Lithuania is one of Ukraine's closest partners. Our task is, just like years ago, at the center of the Battle of Blue Waters events, to help our partners to resist the attraction to authoritarianism and defend the name of a glorious European nation. But we can only help - as the main responsibility, the main swards and shield today are in the hands of sovereign Ukraine," Ažubalis said.
Ažubalis also said at the conference that the Battle of Blue Waters and other events of that time determined further flow of history of Central and Eastern Europe and changed Ukraine's geopolitical orientation.
"After Algirdas won Ukraine in that victorious battle, Ukraine won Europe, Christianity and freedom to further spread of Ukrainian identity," Ažubalis said.
He underlined that Ukraine's alienation from European values today would be "a step back for the entire Europe."
