Andrzej Duda made the statement after holding talks with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Berlin on Monday, the interia.pl website reported.
At a joint news conference with Steinmeier, the Polish president said: “Germany was and is a big European country, a big European power, and also our big neighbour, with whom Poland is linked by the strongest of ties, not just due to a shared border, but also due to huge economic links, common interests and important events in our shared history, sometimes difficult ones, but important ones; and, over the past 30 years, a definitely good history.”
He added: “I’m here also to thank the German authorities for their decision to send Patriot missiles to Poland. We regard it as an important gesture. Boosting Poland’s air defences is of enormous importance in building our security.”
Duda told reporters that the German proposal "was received in Poland as a very important gesture of a NATO ally and a very important neighbourly gesture in relations between Poland and Germany.”
During their meeting, the Polish and German presidents discussed bilateral relations, economic cooperation, including energy, and further support to war-torn Ukraine, officials told reporters.
“Our countries are determined to keep supporting Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion,” Steinmeier told the briefing in Berlin.
The German president stressed: “Poland has welcomed more people from Ukraine than any other country in Europe.”
He added that he felt “enormous respect” for Poland for the way it was helping war refugees.
After the meeting with Steinmeier, the Polish president visited the Berlin offices of Poland’s state-run Pilecki Institute, meeting with the agency's Polish staff as well as Ukrainian volunteers.
The Pilecki Institute studies totalitarianism and Poland’s 20th-century history.
The head of state's visit came on the eve of the 41st anniversary of the imposition of martial law in Poland, officials noted.
Monday was day 292 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, prezydent.pl, interia.pl
Click on the audio player above for a report by Radio Poland's Agnieszka Bielawska.