Poland urges West to increase pressure on Putin to end war
Photo: Radosław Sikorski (Getty Images)
The West must put pressure on Vladimir Putin to make him "abandon his goals in Ukraine." The aggressor must feel the pain of sanctions, stated Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, according to The Guardian.
"We hope that parties will find a way to cease fire and to have productive, real negotiations about ending this war and bringing back respect for international law," he said.
He emphasized that the collective West must continue to apply pressure on Putin.
"If he (Putin - ed.) yet again rejects it (ceasefire - ed.), then the logical conclusion is that pressure should be brought to bear not on the victim of aggression, but on the perpetrator of aggression, until he feels the pain and becomes more reasonable," Sikorski stated.
Consulate closure
Sikorski also mentioned the Polish government’s decision to revoke permission for the opening of a Russian consulate in Kraków, which led to its closure.
This move followed a government investigation into last year’s fire that destroyed a large shopping center in Warsaw. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed that the fire was "caused by arson ordered by the Russian special services."
"This is completely unacceptable, so the Russian consulate will have to leave. They will have one more, and if these attacks continue, we will take further action," the Polish Foreign Minister said.
London meeting
The foreign ministers of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the European Union met in London on the morning of May 12 to discuss Ukraine’s future and broader security issues.
The meeting follows visits by the leaders of these countries to Kyiv over the weekend.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has already stated that Russia could face "massive sanctions" if it refuses to engage in peace talks with Ukraine.
