Poland summons Russian envoy over alleged arson as Kraków consulate faces closure

Poland’s foreign ministry has called in a Russian embassy representative for talks on Monday after accusing Moscow of involvement in an arson attack in Warsaw.

Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Radoslaw Sikorski speaks to the media ahead of the Weimar+ meeting on Ukraine at Lancaster House in London, Britain, 12 May 2025.

Photo: NEIL HALL/POOL/PAP/EPA

The meeting is scheduled for 3 p.m. local time, Poland’s foreign ministry confirmed.

Earlier in the day, Warsaw announced it would revoke consent for the Russian consulate in Kraków to operate, citing evidence that Russian intelligence was behind a recent fire at the Marywilska shopping center in the capital.

A formal diplomatic note informing Russia of the consulate’s closure will be delivered later today, the ministry added.

The move marks a sharp escalation in tensions between the two countries, following a similar closure of the Russian consulate in Poznań earlier this year over comparable accusations.

Poland's top diplomat, Radosław Sikorski, addressed the Russian government in a statement shared on social media, saying: "I have a message for the Russian authorities: we know what you are doing, we do not accept it, and we are taking action."

Mam przesłanie do władz rosyjskich: wiemy co robicie, nie akceptujemy tego i wyciągamy konsekwencje.
Przypominam - po poprzednim akcie dywersji zamknąłem rosyjski konsulat w Poznaniu. pic.twitter.com/Go5hALZgUb

— Radosław Sikorski 🇵🇱🇪🇺 (@sikorskiradek) May 12, 2025

Read more about this topic:

• Poland closes Russia’s Kraków consulate, cites evidence of Kremlin‑ordered arson
• Russia threatens retaliation after Poland closes Kraków consulate

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Source: IAR/PAP/X/@sikorskiradek