On 15 March, in Copenhagen, Deputy Minister Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk talked with Minister for Development Cooperation Flemming Møller Mortensen, Prime Minister M. Frederiksen’s advisor on European affairs Ida Hannibal, Head of the Foreign Affairs Committee Martin Lidegaard and Head of the Defence Committee Rasmus Jarlov. The deputy minister also visited the UNICEF Supply Division, world’s largest storage of humanitarian aid, and met with the representatives of Polish community organisations at Poland’s Embassy in Copenhagen.

Discussed during the meetings were the current humanitarian and refugee situation at the Polish-Ukrainian border and Poland’s humanitarian, political, economic and military activity. Deputy Minister Szynkowski vel Sęk announced an act passed by Polish parliament to regulate the status of Ukrainian refugees in Poland. He also called for Denmark’s further engagement in the help for Ukraine via Polish logistic infrastructure. The Danish side showed understanding and readiness to provide the support. The interlocutors agreed that further sanctions targeting Russia are necessary and underlined that the progressing construction of the Baltic Pipe pipeline is important for energy security in Europe. Deputy Minister Szynkowski stressed that an embargo imposed on Russian gas and oil would be the most effective sanction against Russia, and would result in a much steeper decline of Russia’s GDP, as the energy sector is the main source of the country’s revenue which fuels the regime and its military operations.

On 16-17 March, Secretary of State Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk paid a visit to Finland where he met with State Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Finland Johanna Sumuvuori and Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Eduskunta Jussi Halla-aho.

The talks focused on Russia’s attack on Ukraine and its military, economic, and humanitarian consequences. The officials agreed that it is necessary to put an end to Russia’s aggressive actions and to consistently implement agreed sanctions which have already proved to be effective.

The politicians also discussed challenges related to the influx of refugees from the territory of Ukraine. Deputy Minister Szynkowski vel Sęk described the situation at the Polish-Ukrainian border as a concerted effort of the entire European Union.

The Polish diplomat also noted that although Poland has coped with the unprecedented influx of refugees from Ukraine, it is difficult to predict the challenges that we will have to face in the medium and long term. For this reason, we hope to receive support from our European partners.

The deputy minister stressed that cutting off supplies of raw materials from Russia is the only effective means to stop Putin’s regime in the conflict with Ukraine and to ensure broadly understood security in Europe in the long term, since profits on the sale of these supplies constitute the main source of financing for the military operation against Ukraine and its citizens, and can also be such a source for future aggressive actions.

Moreover, the interlocutors agreed on the need to strengthen Polish-Finnish bilateral cooperation. Faced with the most serious security crisis in the region since World War II, close contacts and reinforced coordination of like-minded states’ positions is particularly valuable.

During his visit to Finland, Deputy Minister Szynkowski vel Sęk also met with representatives of the local Polish community. He thanked them for their efforts to preserve the Polish language and national traditions, and exchanged views on the current situation in Poland related to the refugee crisis.

 

Łukasz Jasina

MFA Press Spokesperson