Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Warsaw today in what was seen as a recognition of Poland’s support for Ukraine and as a show of solidarity between the neighbouring countries.
Speaking in front of a large crowd at Warsaw’s Royal Castle, many of whom were Ukrainians living in Poland, Mr Zelensky thanked Poles for their “hospitality” and support from the outset of the war.
The Ukrainian president said that Russia would not defeat Europe while Ukraine and Poland stood “shoulder to shoulder”.
Today’s meeting in the Polish capital marked the first official state visit by Ukraine’s president and his wife, First Lady Olena Zelenska, to Poland since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Arm in arm, united in freedom and spirit, we will bring victory together,” Mr Zelensky told the crowd and urged those gathered in the picturesque old town to offer a cheer for Polish volunteers who had helped Ukrainian refugees. They duly responded with the largest cheer of the night.
“Only Ukraine has the right to decide its own sovereignty and the conditions for peace talks,” said Poland’s president Andrzej Duda.
Earlier in the day, Mr Duda told reporters that Poland would supply Ukraine with 14 MiG-29 fighter jets and had already sent the first batch of four aircraft to Ukraine.
discussed military aid, reconstruction projects and Ukrainian grain imports
Mr Zelensky met with Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in the afternoon at the Chancellory of the Prime Minister.
Both leaders signed three documents covering the purchase of Polish military equipment, including Krab howitzers, and Polish-produced Rosomak armoured personnel carriers, as well as the purchase of ammunition.
Also present were Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Oleksandr Kubrakov and Poland’s Minister of Development and Technology Waldemar Buda who signed a memorandum of agreement on the planned involvement of Polish companies in post-war reconstruction projects in Ukraine.
Mr Zelensky told reporters that he and Mr Morawiecki had also discussed the impact of Ukrainian grain imports in Poland, which have a cheaper market price than Polish grain and were originally planned to be exported from Polish ports.
However, large amounts of Ukrainian grain have remained in Poland, lowering local market prices and leading to protests from Polish farmers in recent weeks. The Ukrainian leader said that a solution had been reached on the matter.
This morning, Poland’s minister for agriculture Henryk Kowalczyk resigned over the European Commission’s decision to extend duty free imports for Ukrainian grain until June 2024.
And last week, the prime ministers of Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania wrote a letter to the European Commission requesting to limit the impact of Ukrainian grain imports on local prices and, if such measures failed, to re-introduce tariffs.
Mr Morawiecki, sharing the podium with Mr Zelensky, emphasised Poland’s support for Ukrainian membership of NATO and the European Union.
“What’s at stake is the freedom of Ukraine, Poland and the European continent,” Mr Morawiecki told reporters.
Additional reporting Reuters
Zelensky thanks Poles for support during Warsaw visit
Source: Viral Trends Report
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