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Poland makes Ukrainians feel at home: Zelensky

12.03.2022 18:30
The Ukrainian president has said that his compatriots fleeing the Russian invasion are being welcomed and made to feel at home in Poland. 
Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky. PAP/EPA

Volodymyr Zelensky’s words came at a news briefing on Saturday, the state PAP news agency reported.

He said that the relationship between Ukraine and Poland had become “special” and he was  speaking on the phone with Polish head of state Andrzej Duda several times a day. 

The Polish and Ukrainian prime ministers, Mateusz Morawiecki and Denys Shmyhal, also remain in contact, Zelensky added.

Referring to his compatriots fleeing the Russian attack into Poland, he said the Polish people were seeking to make them feel “at home.”

“And they do feel that way,” the Ukrainian president said.

Zelensky also revealed that Ukrainian and Russian negotiating teams “have started discussing concrete topics, rather than exchanging ultimatums,” according to the Reuters news agency. 

He stressed that “any negotiations have to start with a ceasefire.”

In the Ukrainian president’s view, the West is “not involved enough in the peace negotiations,” Reuters reported.     

‘Polish brothers and sisters are with us’

Zelensky on Friday addressed Poland’s National Assembly via video link as Warsaw marked 23 years since joining the NATO military alliance. 

He said: “We haven’t been left alone to deal with the enemy - Polish brothers and sisters are with us,” as quoted by PAP. 

On Saturday, Poland’s lawmakers gave the final go-ahead to a plan of support for Ukrainians escaping the Russian attack on their country.  

The plan now heads to President Duda for signature.  

Saturday is day seventeen of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began on February 24.

Poland on Saturday reported it had admitted 1.596 million people fleeing the Russian attack on Ukraine.

(pm)

Source: PAP, Reuters