The former head of Poland’s Office for International Policy, who currently serves as Poland’s ambassador to China, shared online praise for a speech delivered by UN Security Council foreign minister Radosław Sikorski. Sikorski responded in New York to accusations and distortions voiced by the Russian ambassador.
This piece is essential viewing. Slow-paced, direct, and unambiguous. At the United Nations Security Council, the Polish foreign minister dismantles the Kremlin’s claims about Ukraine and Poland one by one.
– Jakub Kumoch, Poland’s ambassador to China and former head of the presidential BPM, commented on Sikorski’s remarks, noting that the former reformer who once championed a reset in Moscow relations remains a recognizable figure in Poland’s foreign policy.
Sikorski at the UN
On Friday, Sikorski addressed the Security Council during a session commemorating the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, devoting his remarks to rebutting the positions previously stated by Russia’s ambassador to the UN, Vasily Nebenzia, who he described as strikingly off-base.
He described Ukraine as an ally in the Western bloc. He emphasized that Kyiv is defending its sovereignty. He noted that Russia’s side calls Ukraine Nazi, even though Ukraine’s president is Jewish and its defense minister is Muslim, and there are no political prisoners in Ukraine. He challenged the claim that Ukraine is mired in corruption, citing independent investigations to argue otherwise. He also argued that the war narrative is driven by broader geopolitical ambitions rather thanUkraine’s faults, tracing a long history of conflict and coercion by external powers.
Sikorski added that Russia’s critics often label Western fear of Russia as irrational, but he warned that Russia has repeatedly issued threats, including nuclear rhetoric, from Moscow’s leadership and allied media outlets. This, he argued, is not a reasonable fear but a real one that shapes security calculations in Europe.
The Polish minister contested a claim that Poland had attacked Russia during World War II, noting that the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany invaded Poland on September 17, 1939, a historical fact recognized by scholars and observers. He underscored that Russia’s portrayal of itself as consistently defending against aggression ignores decades of aggression by Moscow and its allies. He reminded listeners of the broader arc of conflict in which Poland has found itself repeatedly caught between great powers.
He argued that Russia’s history includes numerous defeats, such as the Crimean War and the Polish-Bolshevik War, among others, and yet reforms often followed these setbacks. The ambassador highlighted the resilience of Poland and Ukraine in resisting external domination, asserting that neither country will be subdued by Moscow’s pressure.
– Sikorski concluded that the narrative of subjugation will not prevail, and the people of Poland and Ukraine will persevere in defending their independence.
Earlier, Nebenzia launched a lengthy tirade blaming the United States and Western powers for the war. Before the debate began, he disparaged the European foreign ministers present, insinuating that they do not truly pursue independent policies, and announced his reluctance to listen to their speeches. Sikorski joined a chorus of foreign ministers who spoke during the session, including counterparts from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ukraine, and several Asian nations.
Voices from around the world—such as the British foreign secretary, the French and German ministers, Ukraine’s top diplomat, and leaders from South Korea and Japan—condemned Russia’s rhetoric and actions. The moment underscored how many Western and allied governments stand in support of Kyiv’s sovereignty and condemn Moscow’s aggression in the ongoing conflict.
People familiar with Poland’s diplomatic track record were glad to see Sikorski maintain a firm stance at the UN, a reminder of how the reset-era approach with Moscow has evolved into a more assertive posture in defense of European security.
Further analyses note that Sikorski’s appearance highlighted the continued evolution of Poland’s role on the international stage and its willingness to hold Russia accountable at the world body. The discussion reflects broader regional concerns about sovereignty, defense modernization, and the persistent threat posed by coercive diplomacy in Eastern Europe. The exchange also signals a broader commitment among NATO allies and EU partners to stand in solidarity with Ukraine and to resist narratives designed to blur responsibility for aggression.
Source commentary and coverage: wPolityce and related Polish outlets provided the context for Sikorski’s remarks and responses from other officials involved in the session. In Canada and the United States, readers may find parallel discussions about Ukraine, NATO security, and the balance of power in international diplomacy as part of ongoing policy debates.