Andrzej Duda made the appeal at a media briefing in London on Wednesday, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s polskieradio24.pl website reported.
Earlier in the day, the Polish president took part in a panel discussion entitled Strengthening the Bridge to Freedom, as part of a bi-yearly business conference called The Wall Street Journal’s CEO Council Summit, according to officials.
In his remarks, Duda focused on “transatlantic cooperation, investing in the security of Poland and the region, and the potential of the Polish economy,” his office said.
Speaking to reporters afterwards, the Polish president said that on Wednesday and throughout his two-day visit to London, he was stressing the need for continued support from the international community to ensure that Ukraine defends itself against Russia's invasion.
‘Ukraine needs constant support’
Duda told the briefing in the British capital: “Ukraine needs constant support and strong commitment from the international community. The international community cannot let Russia wear it down, it cannot succumb to fatigue, it must help and support Ukraine."
Duda stressed that “this support hasn’t lost its importance at all.”
He added, as quoted by the PAP news agency: “On the contrary ... Without this support, Ukraine simply won’t be able to defend itself.”
Investing in Poland
The Polish president also told reporters that, during The Wall Street Journal’s CEO Council Summit, he "encouraged businesspeople to invest" in his country.
"It should be said that Poland is safe. It is a member of NATO and the European Union. It is well defended, and we're investing funds in national security and modernising the army," Duda said.
He stated: “All security guarantees are there in Poland. For our citizens, and also to make investments in Poland safe.”
Poland’s role in the reconstruction of Ukraine
The president told reporters he had also discussed “the role of Poland and Polish companies in the rebuilding of Ukraine.”
He said that Poland “enjoys a beneficial situation” when it comes to the reconstruction of Ukraine, thanks to “our linguistic and cultural proximity to Ukraine, our knowledge of Ukraine itself and of the Ukrainian market, as well as a kind of friendship that representatives of the Polish and Ukrainian business circles have forged over recent years.”
Duda added that Polish roads and airports “represent the most advanced link between Ukraine and the rest of Europe.”
According to the president, “a whole range of factors” makes Poland “a transport corridor to Ukraine that will definitely help rebuild the country.”
“Obviously we want to participate in the reconstruction of Ukraine, also as a way of pursuing Polish interests,” Duda said, as quoted by the PAP news agency.
Wednesday was day 455 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, prezydent.pl, polskieradio24.pl