Polish President Andrzej Duda says Ukraine must restore control over the occupied Crimea and Donbas.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Monday, the leader of the Polish state said that security issues had been extensively discussed at today's talks, an UNIAN correspondent reports.
"I confirm that Poland stands shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine on the issue of Ukraine's borders," Duda stressed.
He added that Ukraine must restore control within internationally recognized borders.
Read alsoZelensky thanks Duda for supporting Ukraine in war with Russia"For Ukraine, this means both regaining control over parts of Luhansk and Donetsk regions, and regaining control over Crimea. And I clearly want to emphasize that the issue of Crimea is very important," Duda stressed.
"We stand on the position that Crimea is under occupation today, and we say this not only in Kyiv and Warsaw, but also at international fora," the Polish president said.
He added that the sanctions imposed over Russian aggression should remain in place until Russia ceases occupation.
"The policy of sanctions must be resolutely pursued, and we will constantly appeal to European Union member states and other international communities in this regard," Duda said.
The Polish president noted that any change in borders post World War II is unacceptable and that the international community can never concede with this.
"And I hope that it never will," concluded Duda.
Duda visit: Background
- On Sunday, October 11, President Andrzej Duda of Poland arrived in Ukraine on a three-day official visit. On Monday, October 12, he is meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Dmytro Razumkov.
- According to the Office of the Polish President, political negotiations will focus on bilateral cooperation, Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic aspirations, as well as regional issues, including the situation in Belarus. The parties will also talk historical issues. Heads of the institutes of national memory are set to meet.
- The third day of the visit – Tuesday, October 13 – will be devoted to economic issues and will be held in Kyiv and Odesa. Two economic agreements will be signed. Outside the Polish Embassy in Kyiv, Duda will unveil a monument to trade unionist Anna Valentinovich, who died in a plane crash in Smolensk in 2010.
