Doris Schmidauer and Diana Nausėdienė meet in Vilnius

On 8 October 2025, the First Lady of Austria, Doris Schmidauer, and the First Lady of Lithuania, Diana Nausėdienė, met at the Ukrainian Centre in Vilnius.

During their visit, Doris Schmidauer learned about the activities of the Ukrainian Centre — a unique cultural and educational space established on the initiative and under the patronage of the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, and Diana Nausėdienė. The Centre offers educational, cultural, and social programmes for the Ukrainian community in Lithuania and has become a platform for uniting Ukrainians temporarily living abroad.

The First Ladies met with Ukrainian children and teenagers participating in the Centre’s educational activities, as well as with Ukrainian women who arrived in Lithuania following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. They shared personal stories and discussed the importance of preserving Ukraine’s culture, history, and education abroad.

Mrs Schmidauer and Mrs Nausėdienė also visited the Bring Kids Back UA exhibition “Lost Childhood”, which highlights one of the most painful aspects of the war — the deportation of Ukrainian children. The exhibition combines photographs of children who were successfully returned home after being taken by russia, their drawings, and their personal stories.

During the meeting, Diana Nausėdienė thanked Doris Schmidauer for Austria’s consistent support of Ukraine, emphasising the importance of not only taking a clear stance on Russian aggression but also providing tangible assistance to the Ukrainian people.

Both First Ladies are active participants in the Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen Global Platform, taking part in both online and offline events. For example, in September 2025 they attended the Fifth Summit, dedicated to the theme ‘Education Shaping the World’. Read more about the event here.

Unity and mutual support in the face of humanitarian challenges remain central principles guiding the work of First Ladies and their collaborative initiatives. The visit of Doris Schmidauer and Diana Nausėdienė to Vilnius underscores the importance of solidarity and joint efforts to support the future of Europe.