2023-08-02 06:53:39
In the dispute over statements by a Polish state secretary about an alleged lack of gratitude in Ukraine, both countries have summoned their ambassadors to each other. The foreign policy advisor to Poland’s President Andrzej Duda, Marcin Przydacz, defended import restrictions for Ukrainian agricultural products on television on Monday – and in this context called for more gratitude from Kiev. “Ukraine should start appreciating what Poland has done for them,” he said. As a result, Kiev summoned the Polish ambassador on Tuesday. He was told that Przydacz’s statements were “unacceptable”.
Warsaw, which has actually been considered one of Ukraine’s most important supporters and closest partners since the Russian attack more than 17 months ago, reacted angrily: “In international politics, under conditions of war and taking into account Poland’s huge support for Ukraine, it must not happen mistakes like this,” Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki wrote on Twitter. Poland, for its part, summoned the Ukrainian ambassador to Warsaw.
Later on Tuesday evening, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj struck a more conciliatory tone: “We will not allow any political snapshots to destroy relations between the Ukrainian and Polish people,” he wrote on Twitter. And: “The emotions should definitely cool down.” Freedom and well-being of both countries as well as standing together against Russia’s war are the top priority.
In his evening video speech, Zelenskyy also thanked the Ukrainian soldiers who are currently fighting for the liberation of occupied territories in the east and south of the country. “These are fighters whose courage and bravery are special,” he said.
Poland reinforces troops on border with Belarus
Poland, meanwhile, has accused Belarus of using helicopters to invade Polish airspace and has responded by increasing the number of soldiers at the border. Two Belarusian helicopters training near the border violated Polish airspace, the Polish news agency PAP quoted the Defense Ministry as saying on Tuesday evening. The border crossing took place on Tuesday in the Bialowieza area at a very low altitude, making it difficult for radar systems to detect it. Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak ordered an increase in the number of soldiers and the provision of additional resources, including combat helicopters, at the border, it said. Poland informed NATO about the incident.
The United States has reason for hope after Russia canceled the deal allowing Ukrainian grain to be exported across the Black Sea. “We have seen signs that they may be interested in returning to the discussions,” said US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield in New York. So far, however, Moscow has not taken any concrete steps in this direction, said Thomas-Greenfield, who chairs the UN Security Council in August.
High level meeting in Saudi Arabia
Important representatives from almost 30 countries plan to meet in Saudi Arabia this weekend to discuss Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The German press agency learned this from diplomatic circles in Riyadh. The meeting is to take place on Saturday and Sunday in the coastal city of Jeddah at the level of national security advisers.
Published/Updated: Recommendations: 163 Othmara Glas Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 7 Oliver Kühn Published/Updated: Recommendations: 50 A comment by Andreas Ross Published/Updated: Recommendations: 48
It will be headed by the Saudi Arabian Musaid al-Aiban. The “top secret invitations” were made at a meeting of allied states in Denmark in June. There was no official confirmation from Riyadh for the meeting.
China wants tighter controls on drone exports
Against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, China announced export controls on drones and drone-related equipment. The export controls, which are also intended to affect certain drones for private use, would come into effect on September 1, the Beijing Ministry of Commerce said. The statement said that the new rules are not directed against a specific country. However, analysts suspected that China was responding to criticism that Chinese drones were being used by Russia in the war in Ukraine. Beijing has denied reports that it is providing Moscow with material for the war.
The future ambassador to Russia, Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, wants to speak out clearly for Germany’s stance in Moscow with a view to the Ukraine war. “The attitude of the federal government is that Russia is waging a war of aggression that violates international law. I will represent that in talks with the Russian side – diplomatically, but also so clearly that there can be no misunderstandings,” he told the “Bonner General-Anzeiger”.
Workers remove a hammer and sickle from the shield of the Motherland statue in Kiev. : Image: AP/Efrem Lukatsky
In the Ukrainian capital of Kiev, the Soviet emblem has been removed from the giant Motherland statue. Photos showed workers removing the hammer and sickle from the monument, which was over 100 meters high. They are now to be replaced by the trident, the national emblem of Ukraine. The work should be completed by August 24th.
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