Addressing a summit of Council of Europe leaders in Reykjavik, Iceland on Wednesday, Duda said that Poland, "as a victim of numerous acts of aggression, knows well the importance of ensuring accountability for the crimes committed during the war in Ukraine."
He told the gathering: "Crimes against humanity and crimes of war must be prosecuted to the fullest extent until the last perpetrator is brought to justice and every victim receives just compensation for their suffering."
Duda also said in his speech that Russia's "barbaric aggression" in Ukraine "has violated all norms, principles and values on which the international order is based."
He declared: "The heroic struggle of Ukrainians to defend their own country is also a struggle for the future of Europe. That is why our united support to Ukraine is of crucial importance. We need to commit here to upholding our solidarity with Ukraine as long as it takes."
'We need to bring the abducted children of Ukraine back to their homes'
He told the summit that "the war, started so cynically by Russia," was causing "immense suffering" to civilians, especially women, children, people with disabilities and elderly people."
"It is our moral duty to continue helping them," Duda said.
"We need to bring the abducted children of Ukraine back to their homes and families," he added.
"Despite Putin's mad war, we must fight to strengthen democracy and freedom in today's world," Duda also said.
"I firmly believe that the war in Ukraine will end with a victory of the free world," he concluded.
In an earlier speech in Reykjavik, Duda called for the creation of a special "register of damage" for Russian war crimes and destruction in Ukraine, saying it would be "an important step to hold to account those guilty of crimes committed in Ukraine."
More than 40 European leaders gathered in Iceland's capital Reykjavik this week for a two-day Council of Europe summit to discuss human rights and security challenges including Russia's war against Ukraine, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.
The Council of Europe is an international organisation that brings together 46 countries aiming to uphold democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Europe.
Ukraine has been a member of the Council of Europe since 1995.
Russia was also a member, but it was expelled from the organization in March last year, weeks after it invaded Ukraine, officials have noted.
Russia invaded Ukraine by land, air and sea on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.
Wednesday is day 448 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
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Source: IAR, PAP, president.pl