The head of Polish diplomacy took part in a panel discussion “Ukraine as a high-income country” and presented Poland’s perspective on the reforms in Ukraine. Minister Jacek Czaputowicz underscored positive aspects of the reforms already implemented in Ukraine and focused on fighting corruption as the key factor for improving business climate for both domestic and foreign businesses. “Ukraine should take action to fight corruption, reform the judiciary, build trust in state institutions and create a stable, transparent and reliable business environment”, said the minister and added that Poland will support Ukraine in their fight with corruption. “Ukraine has great potential to become a strong European country,” said Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz.

Minister Czaputowicz also noted the two ways of Poland’s support for Ukraine both in the area of security in the UN Security Council, NATO and EU, and in the area of the reform process in Ukraine. Our Eastern neighbour remains the biggest beneficiary of Polish development assistance. However, Minister Czaputowicz expressed his conviction that Ukraine still needs massive international support and marked the words of Marshall Józef Piłsudski that there is no free Poland without a free Ukraine.

“Ukraine now needs a true implementation of the commitments they had made,” said Minister Czaputowicz and stressed that the reforms need to be permanent. “Nothing can make Ukraine more independent or more resistant to external threats than successful implementation of the reforms,” pointed the minister.

Minister Jacek Czaputowicz talked with Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of Ukraine Vadym Prystaiko on bilateral issues and current international affairs. The officials discussed further actions after restoring Russia's voting rights in the Council of Europe and agreed to further consult the matter.

In his meeting with Deputy Foreign Minister of Canada Christa Freeland today, Minister Czaputowicz talked about bilateral cooperation and discussed the situation in our region as well as international involvement in the support for Ukrainian reforms. Moreover, the chief of Polish diplomacy invited the Canadian side to participate in events organized in August during the Polish presidency of the UN Security Council.  The Polish community in Canada was also a subject of the conversation between Minister Czaputowicz and Minister Freeland.

Earlier, in his meeting with US Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker, the chief of Polish diplomacy discussed Eastern policy and current challenges posed by the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Speaking of the importance of the Eastern Partnership, Minister Czaputowicz presented the idea to institutionalise it by creating its secretariat and presidency. Minister Czaputowicz and Ambassador Volker also discussed the Berlin Process in the context of the coming Western Balkans Summit in Poznan.

On the sidelines of the conference, Minister Jacek Czaputowicz met with the Foreign Minister of Finland Pekka Haavisto. Minister Czaputowicz underscored the importance of cooperation between Poland and Finland in the region of the Baltic Sea, also in the context of new forms of security threats. The conversation also covered the EU enlargement policy and the agenda for the Finnish EU presidency.

Next, Minister Czaputowicz talked with British Deputy Foreign Minister Tariq Ahmad on Polish-British bilateral relations and the post-Brexit cooperation. The meeting also covered transatlantic relations and Eastern policy, including the Russian aggression on Ukraine, and the need to assist Ukraine in their reforms. The officials also discussed the situation in the Western Balkans.

Moreover, the chief of Polish diplomacy talked about the situation and the role of the Polish community with Canadian MPs from the Polish-Canadian Friendship Group, Arif Virani and James Maloney. The officials underscored the need to strengthen political ties and interparliamentary cooperation. They referred to the possibilities of further development of economic cooperation, increase of trade and promotion of security cooperation, particularly in the framework of NATO.

The visit closed with Minister Jacek Czaputowicz attending a dinner held by the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau.

The Ukraine Reform Conference in Toronto is the third international meeting of this kind. Previously, the event was hosted by London in 2017 and Copenhagen in 2018. The event gathered representatives of over 40 countries and 8 international organisations (including the EU, NATO, OECD, the Council of Europe, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development). The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau spoke during the conference.

MFA Press Office

Photo: Tymon Markowski / MFA