Zbigniew Rau made the statement at a news conference in the Ukrainian capital, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
‘Those responsible for war crimes must be brought to justice’
Meeting the media alongside his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba, Poland’s top diplomat said: “The war crimes committed by Russian forces in Ukraine must not be forgotten and those responsible must be brought to justice.”
He added: “The international community has an obligation to make all efforts to hold accountable everyone who is guilty of these horrible crimes.”
‘I urge Russia to withdraw from Ukraine’
Rau told reporters: “I would like to take this opportunity to yet again urge the Russian Federation to immediately cease all military operations and withdraw completely from Ukraine’s territory in its internationally recognised borders.”
He stressed that “violence must stop immediately.”
OSCE support for Ukraine
Poland’s foreign minister, who visited Ukraine in his capacity as the current chairman of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), assured Ukraine that it could count on the OSCE’s support “regardless of circumstances.”
Rau announced the launch of a new OSCE support programme for Ukraine, worth some EUR 30 million, the PAP news agency reported.
Poland’s top diplomat was accompanied to Ukraine by the OSCE’s Secretary-General Helga Schmid.
Rau heads the OSCE this year as Warsaw presides over the organisation throughout 2022.
‘Poland is a friend of Ukraine’
During the news conference, Rau spoke about Poland's solidarity with Ukraine, the PAP news agency reported.
“Poland is a friend of Ukraine," Rau said, adding that he was "certain that Poland and Ukraine have a common future in a united Europe."
Earlier, Poland’s top diplomat visited the town of Bucha near Kyiv, paying his respects to the victims of the civilian massacres committed there by invading Russian forces.
Rau also met with internally displaced Ukrainians living in temporary accommodation financed by the Polish government.
Poland is 'a strong neighbour of Ukraine’: Zelensky
In the afternoon, Rau met with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky.
During the meeting, the Polish foreign minister "conveyed a message of solidarity and unwavering support to all the people of Ukraine facing the unprovoked and devastating Russian aggression which breaches fundamental OSCE principles and commitments," officials said.
Afterwards, the Ukrainian head of state thanked the Polish government and private citizens for their “powerful support” of Ukraine during the Russian invasion.
Calling Poland “a strong neighbour of Ukraine,” Zelensky also thanked the Polish public for welcoming his compatriots fleeing the war.
“Polish people are helping Ukrainians in any way they can, welcoming them to their families, helping our children, helping families find shelter and employment,” he said.
Zelensky noted that Poland had granted wide-ranging support to refugees from Ukraine and that his own country introduced “similar regulations” to benefit Polish citizens staying in Ukraine.
Later in the day, Rau also met with Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, officials told reporters.
Tuesday was day 160 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP, rp.pl