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Polish FM reaffirms full support for Ukraine on Kyiv visit

13.09.2024 21:00
Poland's top diplomat reaffirmed his country's unwavering support for Ukraine in its defensive war against Russia's invasion during a visit to Kyiv on Friday.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski (right) meets with his Ukrainian counterpart Andriy Sybiha (left) during a visit to Kyiv on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski (right) meets with his Ukrainian counterpart Andriy Sybiha (left) during a visit to Kyiv on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024.Photo: EPA/SERGEY DOLZHENKO

During his visit, Radosław Sikorski met with his Ukrainian counterpart Andriy Sybiha and held talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.

The Polish foreign ministry said on the X social media platform that Sikorski's talks with Zelensky focused on "the situation on the front, Poland's support, Ukraine's path to the EU, and bilateral relations."

Lithuania's top diplomat Gabrielius Landsbergis also took part in the meeting at the presidential palace in Kyiv, alongside Sikorski, the Polish foreign ministry noted.

'Issue of exhuming Volhynia Massacre victims'

It added that Sikorski raised the sensitive issue of "exhuming the Volhynia Massacre victims and their burial" during the meeting.

The World War II Volhynia Massacres were a series of mass killings carried out by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) in Nazi German-occupied Poland between February 1943 and the spring of 1945, according to Poland’s National Institute of Remembrance (IPN).

Earlier this year, Ukrainian diplomats in Warsaw paid tribute to the Polish victims of the wartime killings on Zelensky's behalf.

'Need to use long-range weapons against military targets' in Russia: Zelensky

Ukraine's Zelensky wrote in an X post on Friday that his talks with Sikorski and Landsbergis focused on "important issues, including Russia’s ongoing terror, the need to use long-range weapons against military targets on the territory of the aggressor state, the implementation of bilateral security agreements and the Peace Formula, preparations for the second Peace Summit, and accelerating Ukraine’s accession to the EU and NATO."

"We are grateful to Lithuania and Poland for standing with us from the very beginning until our common victory," Zelensky added.

Support for Kyiv's EU bid

While in Kyiv on Friday, Sikorski also met with Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Olga Stefanishyna, reaffirming Poland's support for Ukraine's EU accession process.

Sikorski and Stefanishyna discussed "international military assistance for Ukraine, and the possibilities of resolving difficult historical issues," the Polish foreign ministry said.

Sikorski began his visit to Kyiv by laying flowers at the Memory Wall of Fallen Defenders of Ukraine, alongside Ukraine's Sybiha.

Before coming to Kyiv, Sikorski visited the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, near the Polish border, where he pledged support for the local community, including in the reconstruction of historic buildings damaged in Russian attacks earlier this month.

The Polish foreign minister's trip to Kyiv came a day after talks in Warsaw with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Kyiv began its EU membership negotiations in June, following a decision by EU leaders in December to open talks with Ukraine, in a major boost for the embattled country and a blow to Moscow.

Russia invaded Ukraine by land, air and sea on February 24, 2022, starting the largest military conflict in Europe since World War II.

Friday is day 933 of Russia’war on Ukraine.

(gs)

Source: IAR, PAP