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UPDATE: Polish president attends Three Seas summit, meets with Ukraine's Zelensky in Vilnius

11.04.2024 21:30
Polish President Andrzej Duda said on Thursday that his country and its regional partners remained steadfast in their efforts to aid Ukraine in defending itself against Russia's invasion.
Polish President Andrzej Duda (right) speaks at a joint news conference with his Lithuanian counterpart Gitanas Nausda (centre) and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky (right) in Vilnius on Thursday, April 11, 2024.
Polish President Andrzej Duda (right) speaks at a joint news conference with his Lithuanian counterpart Gitanas Nausėda (centre) and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky (right) in Vilnius on Thursday, April 11, 2024.Photo: EPA/TOMS KALNINS

He added that Poland and other Central and Eastern European countries needed to bolster their deterrence capabilities in the face of threats from Moscow.

Speaking at a summit of Three Seas Initiative countries in Vilnius, Duda declared: "We are all striving to support Ukraine and assist it in defending itself against Russian aggression as effectively as possible, maximizing its chances for future success. Simultaneously, we must enhance our own deterrence capabilities."

Appearing at a news conference alongside his Lithuanian counterpart Gitanas Nausėda and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, Duda renewed his appeal to NATO allies to increase defence spending to 3 percent of GDP amid Moscow's ongoing war against Kyiv, Polish state news agency PAP reported.

Thursday's Three Seas Summit in the Lithuanian capital focused on efforts to strengthen regional ties and security amid Russia's war in Ukraine, according to officials.

Leaders from across Central and Eastern Europe as well as further afield took part in the event, among them Ukraine's Zelensky.

Topics included climate change, transatlantic relations and support for Ukraine and Moldova, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.

'I thank Poland for its consistent support for Ukraine': Zelensky

Zelensky said in an X post that, during a meeting with Duda on the sidelines of the summit, he briefed the Polish president on "Russia's latest missile attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities and the dire situation in Kharkiv."

He added that Ukraine "urgently requires increased support from partners, first and foremost in air defense."

Zelensky also said that he and Duda discussed "preparations for the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland, cooperation on Ukraine's EU and NATO accession, and the drafting of a bilateral security agreement."

"I thank Poland for its consistent support for Ukraine and continued defense assistance," Zelensky said in his post.

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, starting the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II.

Thursday is day 778 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

The Polish-led Three Seas Initiative aims to boost infrastructure, energy and business ties among 13 countries between the Baltic, Black and Adriatic Seas.

The initiative brings together Poland, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.

The initiative’s key partners include the European Union and the United States.

(gs)

Source: IAR, PAP