Poland, of course, upholds the territorial integrity of Ukraine, there is no doubt about that; I just wondered how to return Crimea to Ukraine, – explained the head of the Foreign Ministry, Radosław Sikorski, referring to the words criticized by Kiev about the possible placing of the peninsula under the supervision of the UN and the organization of a referendum.
Poland of course upholds the territorial integrity of Ukraine, there is no doubt about that and I have stressed this many times
– Sikorski said at a briefing for Polish media in Washington.
However, at the conference there was a hypothetical discussion among experts in off-the-record mode (confidential, without quotes – PAP), where we wondered how to implement President Zelensky’s own suggestions on how to retake Crimea. He spoke about diplomatic activities
– added the head of the Foreign Ministry.
The minister was responding to a question about his statement at the Yalta European Strategy conference in Kiev. According to Ukrainian media, Sikorski proposed placing Crimea under a UN mandate with the prospect of holding a referendum on the territory’s status in the distant future.
The head of Polish diplomacy also referred to reports of a “dispute” between him and, among others, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over the Volhynian crime and the exhumation of the victims.
We support Ukraine militarily, we support Ukraine financially and humanitarianly, but as it happens between neighbouring countries, sometimes there are also issues that need to be resolved and we also talk about them
– said the minister.
We need more lively and even more intensive contacts with Ukraine for its accession to the European Union, and we also hope that Ukraine will also show sensitivity to our demands.
– he added.
Plan of Sikorski’s visit to the US
Sikorski began his visit to the United States on Friday with a lecture at Johns Hopkins University as part of a series of lectures dedicated to the memory of Zbigniew Brzeziński. He is also currently meeting with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. During the multi-day visit, the minister will also meet with Phillip Gordon, the top national security adviser to Vice President Kamala Harris, and hold a series of bilateral meetings with his counterparts from other countries during the high-level week marking the opening of the new session of the UN General Assembly in New York. Sikorski will also fly to Michigan to visit the headquarters of General Dynamics Land Systems, the manufacturer of Abrams tanks, and meet with the local Polish community.
When organizers asked after Friday’s lecture to map out the consequences of the US elections, Sikorski drew attention to Kamala Harris’ support for NATO and Ukraine and her words about Americans of Polish descent in the key state of Pennsylvania.
This is a powerful block. I hope everyone notices this
– Sikorski said, adding that in Michigan he plans to mobilize the Polish community’s support for NATO. He also admitted that Donald Trump was right to pressure the Alliance to spend more, and that he did not do it as “politely” as his predecessors.
At the same time, the minister presented Poland as an example of how populism can be defeated. In this context, he drew attention to the importance of women’s protests against abortion restrictions. He alluded to similar sentiments among American women after the Supreme Court struck down abortion rights nationwide.
The women went left and the men went right. Sound familiar?
– asked the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs rhetorically.
tkwl/PAP
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Source: wPolityce