Speaking at a conference in London on Tuesday, Sikorski said the conflict could be halted if Putin phoned Gen. Valery Gerasimov with an instruction to withdraw Russian forces.
Asked whether the chances of such a call were rising, he replied they grow “when the Russian economy starts to sputter.”
“Ukraine has shown that for 10 years it has held Putin in Donbas. (That indicates) Putin will not win,” he said, adding that what is needed is to show readiness to support Kyiv “in the medium term” and to enforce Western sanctions on Russian oil, gas and technology.
Pressed on what NATO must do to protect Europe from drones violating allied airspace, Sikorski said the alliance needs both “electronic and kinetic” tools to stop “these deadly machines” before they hit targets.
“We must start buying drones and the systems that operate drones. And we must introduce this protective layer at least on our eastern border,” he said.
On the Middle East, Sikorski said Poland “is already present there,” noting roughly 250 Polish soldiers are stationed in Lebanon. He said Poland channels its influence through the European Union and contributes development and humanitarian aid.
“With the modest funds at the disposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we also try to prevent and alleviate suffering,” he said.
Questioned about the absence of a Polish representative at Monday’s summit in Egypt, where a peace agreement for the Gaza Strip was signed, Sikorski declined to answer directly and suggested the question be put to President Karol Nawrocki.
Asked whether Poland might seek a temporary opt-out from implementing the EU migration pact, Sikorski said Poland already exceeds the solidarity required “as long as we host hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians.”
He added that “our Ukrainians will probably stay in Poland for a while longer.”
(jh)
Source: PAP