Plan of Sikorski’s visit to the US
Poland remains unwavering in supporting Ukraine’s territorial integrity, a stance repeatedly asserted by the government. In discussions about Crimea, Polish officials have floated ideas such as placing the peninsula under a United Nations mandate with a referendum contemplated for the distant future, a concept Kyiv has questioned. The position signals readiness to explore diplomatic avenues while underscoring Poland’s deep commitment to Ukraine’s borders.
Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski clarified these ideas during a briefing for Polish journalists in Washington, underlining Poland’s clear stance and elaborating on the practical questions such a framework would raise.
During a conference, there was a confidential, off-the-record discussion among experts about how Ukraine’s proposals to retake Crimea might be translated into concrete steps, including diplomatic initiatives to shape the situation on the peninsula.
The minister responded to questions about remarks at the Yalta European Strategy conference in Kiev, where Ukrainian media reported suggestions of a UN mandate for Crimea with a long-term referendum option.
He also addressed reports of a dispute over the Volhynia tragedy and the exhumation of victims, noting that disagreements can arise between neighboring states and are best addressed through dialogue and mutual understanding.
Poland’s foreign minister emphasized robust support for Ukraine in military, financial, and humanitarian terms, while acknowledging that, in neighborly relations, issues inevitably surface and require open, ongoing conversations.
He called for stronger, more frequent contacts with Ukraine to speed its path toward European Union membership and expressed hope that Kyiv would respond to Poland’s concerns with equal seriousness.
Plan of Sikorski’s visit to the US
Sikorski began the visit with a lecture at Johns Hopkins University, part of a series honoring Zbigniew Brzeziński. He held meetings with the United States National Security Advisor and was scheduled for talks with other senior officials during the week opening the new session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. A stop in Michigan was planned to visit the General Dynamics Land Systems headquarters, the maker of Abrams tanks, and to meet with the Polish community there.
When asked about the implications of the U.S. elections, Sikorski highlighted Kamala Harris’s support for NATO and Ukraine and drew attention to comments about Americans of Polish descent in Pennsylvania as an important political dynamic.
This is a powerful bloc. I hope everyone notices this
— Sikorski remarked, noting plans to mobilize Polish-American support for NATO in Michigan. He also acknowledged that Donald Trump was right to urge increased defense spending, though he did not phrase it as politely as some predecessors.
At the same time, the minister presented Poland as an example of how populism can be countered. He drew attention to the role of women’s protests against abortion restrictions and alluded to similar sentiments among American women after the Supreme Court overturned nationwide abortion rights.
The line about the political split—”The women went left and the men went right”—was offered rhetorically to underscore cross-border resonance of social movements and the importance of inclusive, civic dialogue.
[Citation: Polish press coverage]