Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki expressed this Tuesday from kyiv his desire to “end the tragedy” who lives Ukraine “as soon as possible”, on a joint trip with his Czech and Slovenian counterparts, Pietr Fiala and Janez Jansa, to the besieged Ukrainian capital.
The purpose of the trip, by train and without previous announcementwas to “confirm the unequivocal support of the entire European Union (EU) for the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine and present a comprehensive aid package,” Polish government spokesman Piotr Müller had said in the morning.
After meeting in Poland, the three leaders left for kyiv by train in order to meet with the Ukrainian president, Volodímir Zelenski, and the Prime Minister of that country, Denys Shmyhal.
The trip had been previously agreed at the informal summit in Versailles, in which the leaders of the European Union (EU) met last Friday, according to Polish sources.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. AP Photo
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The spokesman for the Government of Warsaw also reported that both the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, and representatives of the United States government, They were aware of the visit.
According to Warsaw, the delegation “de facto represents the EU”since it also has “the consensus of the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen”.
In a message broadcast through his social networks, Morawiecki stated, already in kyiv, that “this war ands the result of the actions of a cruel tyrant who attacks civiliansbomb cities and hospitals in Ukraine,” referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The message was accompanied by several photos of the Polish, Czech and Slovenian leaders, in casual clothes, and sitting together at a table with a map of Ukraine spread out before them.
On Twitter, the head of the Polish government added in English: “This is where history is made in war-torn kyiv. This is where freedom fights against the world of tyranny. This is where the future of all of us hangs in the balance.”
“The EU supports Ukraine, which can count on the help of its friends: today we brought this message to kyiv,” he concluded.
Sources from the community institutions, from Brussels, affirmed that they were “aware” of the trip, while the President of the Council underlined “safety hazards” which involved a visit to the Ukrainian capital, under siege from Russian attacks.
Shortly before the arrival of the delegation in kyiv, the spokesman for the Polish government, Michal Dworczyk, stressed that the trip was “risky”, but that “the circumstances” demanded “sacrifices”. For his part, the Polish Foreign Minister, Zbigniew Rau, confirmed that the trip had been “carefully prepared” and with the Brussels agreement.
Next, the Ukrainian Prime Minister published a message on the Internet in which he confirmed the arrival of the three leaders in kyiv “on behalf of the European Commission” and he greeted them with the phrase “the value of true friends”.
The delegation was joined by the head of the Polish ruling party, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, who in addition to holding the vice presidency of the government is also the chairman of the Committee for National Security and Defense Affairs.
From Warsaw, a spokesman for the Polish Executive stated that “History is happening before our eyes, the future of Europe and perhaps of the world is being forged before us”, alluding to the visit.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, with his Czech and Slovenian counterparts, Pietr Fiala and Janez Jansa, in the besieged Ukrainian capital. AFP photo
Twenty days after the start of the war in Ukraine, Poland’s strong political support for the kyiv government has seen milestones such as the meeting last Friday of the Polish National Assembly, for the first time in its history, a body that brings together representatives of Congress, the Senate and the Executive.
At the request of Polish President Andrzej Duda, President Zelensky intervened in the session through an online connection which he used to express his “thanks” to the “Polish brothers” and declare that “if God helps us and we win this war, we will share our victory with you. With our Polish brothers and sisters”; “It will be our greatness, but also your greatness,” Zelensky concluded.
For his part, the Polish president has repeatedly described the actions of Russian troops as “genocide” and announced that Poland is collaborating in providing evidence on alleged war crimes committed by Russia.
On March 16, a court in The Hague will deliver a verdict on the matter, according to Polish media.
Source: EFE, AP and AFP
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