On Tuesday, November 26, during his visit to Poland, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha held bilateral talks in Warsaw with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Radoslaw Sikorski.
Andrii Sybiha emphasized the substantive nature of the meeting with his counterpart Radoslaw Sikorski and highlighted that the relations between Ukraine and Poland are based on friendship, strategic partnership and deep solidarity.
Ukrainian Minister informed his Polish сolleague about Russia's recent unacceptable steps aimed at escalating and expanding the war. According to him, Russia is expanding its aggression by involving North Korean troops, striking on Ukrainian nuclear energy facilities, and using a medium-range ballistic missile.
"Russia once again demonstrated that it does not seek peace. It seeks only war. And this means that it can only be forced to peace. Forced to peace through strength. And for this, our partners need to take a few decisive steps," he emphasized.
In this context, the Foreign Minister stressed the need to increase military support for Ukraine and strengthen its air defense shield. He added that the allies must also enhance sanctions against Russia, particularly targeting its "shadow fleet", as well as metallurgy sector.
Andrii Sybiha called unacceptable the situation in which European countries still issue hundreds of thousands of Schengen visas to Russian citizens per year. According to him, Russians in Europe pose a security threat to EU member states. The Minister urged to restrict the issuance of visas to Russian citizens.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister informed his counterpart about the situation on the front line. He noted that Ukrainian soldiers need more weapons and equipment and expressed his personal deep gratitude to Poland for its strong defensive support.
During the negotiations, the head of Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs raised the issue of transferring Polish MiGs to Ukraine. The minister noted that the Ukrainian side understands the importance of protecting of its own airspace for Poland. In this regard, Ukraine is in talks with NATO allies aimed at supporting the defense of Poland's skies and the eastern borders of the Alliance.
Andrii Sybiha stated that Ukraine urgently needs a decision from its allies regarding the downing of enemy`s targets over its own territory.
“Russia is brutally attacking our cities, infrastructure, and civilians every day. We need more protection for our people. We need immediate, strong decisions," he said.
During the discussions, the ministers agreed that Ukraine's membership in NATO is the only way to ensure long-term security for Europe. Andrii Sybiha noted that Ukraine needs an invitation to NATO now.
The Foreign Minister also stated that he values Poland's role as a key hub for international aid to Ukraine and expressed hope for Poland's active involvement in Ukraine's reconstruction. The minister invited Polish businesses to participate in reconstruction projects.
The heads of the Ukrainian and Polish foreign ministries discussed the border issue. In this context, Andrii Sybiha highlighted that the development of border infrastructure is important for both sides. He stated that Ukraine and Poland aim to sign an agreement on joint border control.
"We believe that the transit of agricultural goods from Ukraine should continue without obstacles, in accordance with the spirit and letter of the EU's Solidarity Lanes," said the minister.
Two diplomats also discussed the complex issues of the historical past. Andrii Sybiha emphasized that Ukrainians, like Poles, are interested in ensuring that there are no misunderstandings between the two peoples.
"Each family has the right to honour the memory of their ancestors with dignity. Currently, within the framework of the joint Ukrainian-Polish working group under the auspices of the ministries of culture of both countries, we are working on practical mechanisms to address issues related to searches and exhumations. We have made progress on this path, and this is reflected in our joint statement today," emphasized the Foreign Minister.