The president’s remarks were clarified by the government’s spokesperson, who noted that slip of the tongue happens to everyone. The clarification aligned with the government’s stance, and the matter, they said, could be considered closed for now. The comments were made in Brussels as Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski addressed reporters about President Andrzej Duda’s statements concerning Crimea.
These are sensitive topics, and the Polish diplomat conveyed that President Duda’s expressed sympathy for Ukraine was unequivocal. The diplomat emphasized that even in tough comparisons from history, Europe’s borders remain internationally recognized. The lesson drawn was clear: borders established after two world wars were not to be altered by force, because attempts to redraw them would invite widespread conflict that no nation could afford. The head of Polish diplomacy underscored that borders across Europe resulted from complex historical events, but peace and stability require restraint and adherence to agreed boundaries.
Statement and clarification from the President
President Andrzej Duda sat down for an interview with Robert Mazurek and Krzysztof Stanowski on the program Kanał Zero. Mazurek asked whether the president believed Ukraine might regain control of the Donbas and Crimea in the future.
In that exchange, the president urged a firm stance toward Russia. He expressed the view that Ukraine should not yield, and that the West should not retreat from supporting Ukraine in this confrontation. Allowing Ukraine to concede could be seen as recognizing renewed Russian imperial ambitions, a consequence the president argued must never be accepted, as it would validate imperialism rather than curb it.
When pressed further by Mazurek, the president elaborated that regaining Crimea remained uncertain. He did, however, express a belief that Donetsk and Lugansk could potentially be reclaimed by Ukraine. He acknowledged Crimea’s unique historical status, noting that the region had spent significant periods under Russian control, which made the question especially delicate.
Following substantial criticism of those remarks, the president later issued a clarification on the X platform. He reaffirmed a long-standing position: Russia’s aggression against Ukraine violates international law, and Russia occupies areas of Ukraine that are internationally recognized as sovereign Ukrainian territory, including Crimea. He stated that the war cannot end with Russia prevailing, and that Russian imperialism must be halted, defeated, and prevented from reemerging in the future. Ukraine’s victory, he asserted, is essential for a free and secure international order, and the allies stand united with Ukraine against aggression and imperialism.
These points were reiterated by the president in a public statement, underscoring that the Free World must support a sovereign and independent Ukraine in the face of aggression. (attribution: Warsaw political commentary)
Safeguarding the rule of law and the inviolability of international borders remains a guiding principle in Poland’s foreign policy, even as members of the administration navigate difficult historical analogies and evolving security challenges. The overarching message is one of firm support for Ukraine and a clear stance against any attempt to redraw territorial boundaries by force. (attribution: Polish government spokesperson)
In discussions of Crimea and the broader regional security context, observers note the importance of maintaining cohesion among European and allied partners. The emphasis is on upholding international law, supporting Ukrainian sovereignty, and resisting imperial ambitions that threaten peace across the European continent. (attribution: regional policy analysis)