Paweł Jabłoński made the remark in an interview with public broadcaster Polish Radio on Tuesday.
According to the Polish deputy foreign minister, “Russia welcomes the fact that the international public has focused its attention on the conflict in the Middle East, rather than the crimes being committed in Ukraine.”
Jabłoński added that Russia hoped the West’s attention would be deflected elsewhere, allowing it to defeat Ukraine.
He warned that after declaring a victory over Ukraine, Russia would stoke further conflicts.
Jabłoński told Polish Radio that Russian President Vladimir Putin "is seeking to not just hold on to the territory he currently occupies in Ukraine, but also to further conquer, both Ukraine and other countries from the former Soviet sphere of influence, including Poland.”
The Polish deputy foreign minister added that the international community “must continue the policy of containing Russian aggression.”
Referring to the Israel-Hamas conflict, Jabłoński said that Russia “most certainly” worked with Hamas, with links "likely covering finances, training and political cooperation."
Hamas launched a deadly attack on Israel on October 7, killing 1,400 people, with a further 239 kidnapped as hostages, British broadcaster BBC reported.
Israel has since been bombing Gaza in retaliation, killing more than 8,500 people, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.
Israel said it had struck some 300 targets since Monday, including Hamas military compounds, and killing “numerous” militants, Britain’s The Guardian newspaper reported.
The casualties include a senior Hamas commander Nisam Abu Ajina, Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.
Tuesday is day 615 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.
(pm/gs)
Source: IAR, Polish Radio, BBC, The Guardian