Marcin Przydacz made the remark after a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Przydacz, who stood in for Poland’s top diplomat Zbigniew Rau, said the get-together had explored new sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
Przydacz told reporters that the proposed new round of punitive measures “contains several aspects that had been advocated by Poland ... namely sanctions on some dozen arms contractors … and on tax, accounting and lobbying firms that actively try to help Russia sidestep the sanctions."
EU ban on Russian oil
Asked about the proposed embargo on Russian oil, Przydacz said: “I am optimistic. Hopefully we’ll manage to reach an agreement and all members of the EU will strike a common position.”
He added: “I deeply believe that the European Commission [the EU’s executive] ... will bring the talks to a positive conclusion … This decision is needed as soon as possible."
Refugee support
Przydacz told the media that Poland was pushing for “additional EU funding for the countries that welcome refugees from Ukraine.”
Energy security
Moreover, Monday’s talks focused on the EU's energy security, featuring Mélanie Joly, the foreign minister of Canada, which is a major gas producer, officials told reporters.
Przydacz said that Poland had a huge role to play in diversifying sources of gas, with its “liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal and … new gas links with other countries.”
Tuesday is day 83 of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Poland on Monday reported it had welcomed 3.4 million refugees fleeing Russia's war on Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, consilium.europa.eu