On December 20, in the 1st Battalion of Podhale Riflemen, in Rzeszów, the Presidential Couple and Mariusz Błaszczak, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense took part in a Christmas meeting participated by the soldiers of the Polish Armed Forces, officers of uniformed services, as well as soldiers of the Allied armies.

The meeting with Polish soldiers was also an opportunity to talk and express Christmas wishes to soldiers who are currently serving in the Polish Military Contingents. Lt. Col. Tomasz Panka, commander of PMC UNIFIL in Lebanon, using video transmission, sent Christmas wishes on behalf of PMC.

- This has a symbolic dimension that, on the one hand, we connect with our soldiers who serve thousands of kilometers away, for the sake of our Homeland’s safety, and on the other, we are accompanied today by the soldiers from the United States and Canada who came to Poland thousands of kilometers to support the Polish Armed Forces here in Rzeszów. This is a great symbol of strong Allied cooperation and building interoperability between NATO forces, as well as our common concerns for the security of Poland and the entire NATO community.

– stressed Deputy Prime Minister Mariusz Błaszczak.

During his speech, the head of the Ministry of National Defense reminded that since mid-2021, several thousand soldiers of operational and territorial defense forces have been protecting the Polish-Belarusian border against the escalation of the hybrid crisis - the migration crisis, which was caused by Lukashenko’s regime in an attempt to destabilize the situation in Poland and on NATO's eastern flank.

- Rzeszów is also a unique place because of the help we provide to our Ukrainian neighbors who have been assaulted by Russia. We all know perfectly well that Russian attempts to recreate its empire have always involved the spread of evil - regardless of whether it was white, red, or Putin's Russia. And it is the free world’s objective to stop this evil. That is why we support Ukrainians who bravely fight for their independence, not forgetting that while fighting for their freedom, they also fight for the independence of the entire free world.

- noted Deputy Prime Minister.

Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Rzeszów has become the main transport hub where military and humanitarian aid from all over the world is sent in order to be transferred to Ukraine next.

- What is obvious, we do not stop in these efforts. I would like to thank once again the Polish Armed Forces’ soldiers, and people in all kinds of uniforms, for taking care of our common safety every day

– said the head of the Ministry of National Defense.

During the meeting, the scouts of the Polish Scouting Association handed over the Bethlehem Light of Peace.

The President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, underlined that in the most important moments, soldiers and representatives of the uniformed services served together in joint efforts to assure the security of Poland and all its citizens.

- All of you have shown how excellently you can carry out your tasks, and with what extraordinary devotion you can serve our Homeland, as well as that Poland and those who live in it, along with those who are in need of help can count on you. I am very happy to meet you before Christmas to express my Christmas wishes, share the wafer, talk, and soak in this unique atmosphere.

– said the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

President Andrzej Duda participated in the Christmas meeting with soldiers, policemen, firemen, and border guard officers and reminded all of their tireless efforts of the passing year.

- Hand in hand, you fought the coronavirus pandemic; alleviated the possible results of the crisis on the Polish-Belarusian border, the crisis caused by the Belarusian authorities supported by the Kremlin; you have served in the face of the Russian war in Ukraine and its effects, as well as supported Ukrainian refugees; this summer, you acted in the face of the ecological catastrophe we had to deal with on the Oder river. (…) All of you have shown excellently well how you carry out assigned tasks, and with what extraordinary devotion you can serve our Homeland, as well as that Poland and those who live in it, along with those who are in need of help can always count on you.

- emphasized the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda.