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EU summit to discuss security of Polish territory near Russia: PM

23.06.2022 18:30
The Polish prime minister said on Thursday that he would raise the issue of the Suwałki Gap, a strategic land corridor near Russia’s Kaliningrad enclave, at the European Union summit in Brussels.
Polands Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki arrives at the European Union summit in Brussels, Belgium, on Thursday, June 23, 2022.
Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki arrives at the European Union summit in Brussels, Belgium, on Thursday, June 23, 2022. PAP/EPA/Stephanie Lecocq

Mateusz Morawiecki made the announcement to the media just before the two-day EU meeting in the Belgian capital, Polish state news agency PAP reported.

Morawiecki told reporters that the summit would focus on further financial and military assistance to war-torn Ukraine, in addition to EU membership applications from Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, and the food and energy crisis, among other topics. 

EU assistance, candidate status for Ukraine

Morawiecki said he would push for Ukraine to receive at least EUR 9 billion in fresh financial assistance “so that at least some hospitals can function, as well as schools, police, the border guard - basic state services.”

He voiced hope that “Ukraine will receive EU candidate status, and so Ukraine’s hope of retaining independence and sovereignty will be kept alive.”

Suwałki Gap

The Polish prime minister said he would also "raise the issue of the Suwałki Gap." 

He added: “Today, Poland and Lithuania are at the centre of diplomatic efforts to strengthen the eastern flank of NATO, but also the eastern flank of the EU.”

The Suwałki Gap could become a potential flashpoint if the war in Ukraine spilled into neighbouring countries, according to news outlets. 

The corridor is nestled between northeastern Poland and southern Lithuania. It is flanked on either side by Belarus and Russia's Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad.

The politico.eu website recently called the corridor “the most dangerous place on Earth.”

Meanwhile, Polish Deputy Defence Minister Wojciech Skurkiewicz said on Wednesday that Russian fighter jets were carrying out “provocations” in the Baltic Sea region.

Earlier this week, Russia warned the Baltic state of Lithuania of “serious consequences” after Vilnius banned the rail transit of some goods to the Kaliningrad region. The blockade follows European Union sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

Thursday was day 120 of Russia's war on Ukraine.

(pm/gs)

Source: PAP, wnp.pl