In his address to Ukrainian diplomats, Minister Rau referred to Russia’s proposal of the so-called “security guarantees” made to the US over recently escalating tensions between Moscow and Kyiv. The Polish foreign minister underscored that Ukraine, like all other countries, has the right to freely decide on its destiny and to choose its development model and alliances it wants to enter into. “Today, and in the future, we will always act against imperial tendencies in world politics, against the concepts of ‘concert of powers’ or ‘sphere of influence’,” highlighted the minister. He also stressed that NATO enlargement should not be considered a threat. “Enlarging NATO, which is a defensive alliance, will not weaken anyone’s security, unless they plan aggression and fear that the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance could hold it back,” he added.

During the plenary session “Diplomacy in the era of rapid changes,” Minister Rau spoke to Ukrainian diplomats on current challenges to the region and Europe.

The visit was also an opportunity to meet with Minister Dmytro Kuleba and Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Oleksiy Danilov. The two foreign ministers expressed their satisfaction with the intensification of Polish-Ukrainian relations, including at the highest level. They welcomed the first Lublin Triangle presidents’ summit, which took place in the village of Huta, in the Ukrainian Carpathians, on 20 December. Ministers Rau and Kuleba also discussed current issues on the bilateral agenda. Minister Rau underlined Poland’s support for the independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders.

The meeting with Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, covered present security issues in the region. Furthermore, the chief of Polish diplomacy outlined the objectives of Poland’s OSCE chairmanship, which begins on 1 January 2022.

 

Łukasz Jasina
MFA Press Spokesperson

 

Photo: Tymon Markowski / MFA