Military and financial assistance to Ukraine was the main topic raised with Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Hanke Bruins Slot. The diplomats stressed the need for close cooperation between European defence industries, in particular in the production of munitions. Minister Sikorski thanked the government in The Hague for the increase in its defence spending and support provided to Ukraine as it pushes back the invasion. Poland’s top diplomat also pointed to the need to step up the sanctions pressure on Russia, including by further tightening of export controls. Both sides expressed their willingness to further enhance bilateral relations and cooperation at European level.  

Both Minister Radosław Sikorski and his Croatian counterpart, Gordan Grlić-Radman, expressed satisfaction with the excellent state of Polish-Croatian relations, stressing that the two countries have similar views on a number of issues related to current threats and challenges for Europe. They also agreed about the need to step up comprehensive assistance to Ukraine. Both Poland and Croatia take the view that a quick opening of accession negotiations should be a key element of the EU’s support for Kyiv.

The ministers expressed their support for the integration of the Western Balkan countries, highlighting the need to synchronise the foreign policy of candidate countries with that of the European Union. 

Minister Grlić-Radman reaffirmed that Croatia attaches great importance to developing the Three Seas Initiative, while Minister Sikorski pointed to the need to continue strategic infrastructure projects with the support from the EU and the US.  

Also discussed was energy security in the context of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Minister Sikorski welcomed Croatia’s efforts to improve diversification of supplies, also in the Balkan region, including to increase the capacity of an LNG terminal on the island of Krk.