“We must return to pre-war trade rules,” said the head of the Foreign Ministry, Radosław Sikorski, during a speech at the Atlantic Council think tank. As he explained: “Polish farmers cannot bear the greatest burden of our solidarity.” According to Sikorski, the dispute must be resolved and Ukraine must then be further supported.
In his lecture at the think tank’s headquarters in Washington, Sikorski spoke about the importance of this moment in history and the consequences of the choices facing America and its allies. He presented three steps he believes are needed for a “more stable and secure world”: immediate delivery of the ammunition the country needs to Ukraine, massive investments in security on both sides of the continent, and broadening and deepening alliances.
Sikorski noted that while he is Poland’s foreign minister, he also has an interest in ensuring that “America remains wealthy and confident enough to remain loyal to its allies,” due to his family ties, which include an American wife and a son serving in the military, USA. He also warned against isolationism and appeasing Vladimir Putin.
I realize that reconciliation may seem like the easier path. But this is actually a dead end. I fear that if America does not work with Europe to enable a Ukrainian victory, our community of democratic states will begin to fragment. Allies will look for other ways to keep themselves safe, and some will turn to the ultimate weapon
– said Sikorski.
He also warned that if Russia is not stopped in Ukraine, it will advance further and move closer to NATO’s borders. However, he noted that the good news is that Putin will decide to take such steps “only if he thinks he can get away with it,” and that the US and Europe can prevent this. He also emphasized that the war in Ukraine is a “shattering moment” in world history.
It is up to us to choose whether we want to shape history ourselves or let others shape it in Moscow, Tehran, Beijing. Defeating Putin is the right thing to do in the broadest sense of the word; it is morally sound, strategically sensible, militarily justified and economically beneficial. This trumps politics and is more important than partisanship
– argued the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, once again calling on Congress and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to approve an aid package for Ukraine.
Sikorski emphasized that the package is in fact an investment in American industry, namely 90 percent The funds will be spent in the country, and according to a report by the think tank American Enterprise Institute, the funds will support weapons factories in 31 states, both in the states where the Democrats govern and in the states where the Republicans govern.
“These are usually empty threats.”
During a question and answer session with former Pentagon deputy chief and US Ambassador Paula Dobriansky, Sikorski said, among other things: on the issue of Russian nuclear threats. As he noted, they should not prevent allies from providing stronger support to Ukraine.
I think Putin has discovered that using nuclear weapons is actually quite difficult
– said Sikorski.
He added that the use of nuclear weapons poses not only the risk of a strong international response, but also problems such as radioactive contamination on the battlefield and threats to our own armed forces.
So I think these are mostly empty threats and shouldn’t deter us from doing the right thing
– emphasized Sikorski.
“Polish farmers cannot bear the biggest burden.”
The head of Polish diplomacy was also asked about the farmers’ protest on the Polish-Ukrainian border and its implications for further support to Kiev. He stated that resolving the problem was necessary to continue aid and recalled that Europe had opened its borders to Ukrainian grain as a gesture of solidarity, despite the lack of equal rules and standards on both sides of the border.
But that was when Ukraine could not export its grain (by sea). Now it is possible again (…) And we must return to the pre-war trade rules
– he assessed.
We also have our own policies and Polish farmers cannot bear the brunt of our solidarity. I agree that the optics of this are not good, so we need to resolve this and continue to support Ukraine
– added.
Ukraine in NATO?
The head of the Foreign Ministry also spoke about the prospects for ending the war and negotiations with Russia. When asked about the definition of Ukrainian victory, he said the only stable solution is a return to Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders, as other scenarios are a recipe for a frozen conflict and instability. He also stated that negotiations with Putin are practically impossible because he has no credibility.
In exchange for whatever you are willing to do, you get a piece of paper. So I ask: how much is this piece of paper worth?
– argued Sikorski, pointing to the long history of Russian violations of international agreements.
At the same time, referring to the prospects of Ukraine’s accession to NATO, the minister admitted that the matter was complicated, because although his heart belonged to Kiev, its acceptance at this time should mean a willingness to go to war with Russia for NATO. Ukraine.
So we have to ask ourselves: are we willing to go to war with Russia over Ukraine? I am afraid that many current Member States answer this question: “not yet”
– Sikorski noted.
yes/DAD
Source: wPolityce