The Russian Foreign Ministry announced the termination of the science and technology cooperation agreement with Poland. The decision appears in a document published on the official portal for legal information, signaling a formal end to a bilateral framework that had guided joint research and educational collaboration for decades.
Specifically, the agreement on cooperation in the field of science and technology, signed in Warsaw on August 25, 1993, between the government of the Russian Federation and the government of the Republic of Poland, was terminated on May 3, 2023, according to the published text. The bilateral arrangement had enabled agreements between Russian and Polish research institutes, universities, research and production associations, and enterprises. Its aim was to deepen scientific and technical ties, promote joint projects, and help integrate both countries into the global scientific and technical community. Over the years, the agreement supported exchanges, collaborative research programs, and the sharing of expertise across a wide range of disciplines, from basic sciences to applied engineering, reflecting a broader intent to maintain a constructive scientific partnership even amid evolving political dynamics.
In recent days, the relationship between Russia and Poland has shown signs of renewed engagement despite the broader geopolitical context. On May 9,Russian Ambassador to Poland Sergei Andreev, accompanied by a delegation of Russian diplomats, visited the memorial cemetery of the Soviet liberators in Warsaw to lay wreaths and flowers commemorating the 78th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The visit occurred as part of commemorative ceremonies that traditionally draw diplomatic participation. Eyewitness reports indicate a tense environment, with an angry crowd preventing diplomats from approaching the memorial service. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs had been informed in advance about the ceremony, but Polish authorities and police did not ensure access to the site for the diplomats, triggering questions about security and protocol surrounding the event.
Prior to these commemorations, Polish border guards reported that a Russian Su-35 fighter jet intercepted a Polish aircraft over the Black Sea. In response, Andreev conveyed a formal note to the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, outlining concerns and seeking clarification. The incident underscored ongoing friction in the bilateral relationship, highlighting how airspace and military communications can affect diplomatic interactions even as efforts to discuss scientific cooperation continue in other spheres. The exchange reflects the broader pattern in which political disputes and security considerations intersect with cultural and scientific exchanges, shaping public perception and the practical conduct of bilateral diplomacy.