Ending war in Ukraine impossible without Kyiv and Europe at table - Sikorski
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski (photo: Getty Images)
The issue of ending the war launched by Russia cannot be resolved without the participation of Ukraine and Europe, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said in an interview with the BBC.
According to him, after the end of Joe Biden's presidency, US military and financial support for Ukraine decreased, and it is Europe that is now providing most of the weapons and financial assistance to Ukraine.
"We appreciate President Trump's efforts, but we will also make our own decisions in Europe," Sikorski said.
He added that "the issue of ending the war in Ukraine cannot be resolved without the participation of Ukraine itself and Europe."
The Polish foreign minister also noted that in Europe, Putin is considered a war criminal, so negotiations involving him could not take place on this territory.
"We all want peace, but it must be a just peace. And to achieve a just peace, we must secure concessions from Russia. Russia must limit its military objectives," he said.
Sikorski also responded to a question about the possibility that the United States might demand that Ukraine make territorial concessions in order to reach peace, even though Ukrainians themselves reject this idea.
"I am sure that President Trump understands that Ukraine does not need anyone's help to surrender to Russia. Ukraine needs help to achieve a just peace and to have borders it can defend," he stressed.
The Polish foreign minister added that he does not consider it appropriate to publicly discuss what Ukraine is ready to sacrifice in order to achieve peace, and that in any case these decisions must be made by Kyiv.
"As foreigners, we should not tell the victim of aggression how to make peace with the aggressor — because it is Ukraine that will live with the consequences," Sikorski said.
At the same time, he emphasized that a simple ceasefire will not solve the problem.
"In fact, I even agree with the Russians that the global causes of this war need to be addressed. And in my opinion, that is Russian imperialism — the fact that Vladimir Putin has given himself the right to decide who can and cannot be a nation, and within which borders," the minister said.
Sikorski also reminded that Putin had already signed an agreement with Ukraine guaranteeing Ukraine's internationally recognized borders, which was ratified by both countries in 2004.
"Why do you think that if he signs a new agreement, he will keep his word?" the Polish foreign minister asked.
Trump-Putin meeting
A meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin is scheduled to take place in Alaska on Friday, August 15.
Today, the US president stated that he plans to demand from Putin that he end the war. Trump aims to reach an agreement on a ceasefire in Ukraine during his upcoming meeting with the Russian leader.
More on what Ukraine can expect from the Trump-Putin meeting — in the RBC-Ukraine report.
