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Polish FM, US state secretary discuss support for Ukraine

29.12.2021 08:30
Poland's top diplomat Zbigniew Rau and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlighted the need for coordinated action to support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine when they talked over the phone on Tuesday, according to the foreign ministry in Warsaw.
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Image:Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs/gov.pl

Rau and Blinken confirmed that "any further Russian military aggression against Ukraine will have severe consequences for the Kremlin," the Polish foreign ministry said in a statement.

It added that the two top diplomats "discussed the current security situation in Europe, including the escalation of Russian Federation’s hostile activities towards Ukraine and the continued hybrid attack by Belarus at its border with Poland."

Rau and Blinken "agreed that in the dialogue with the Russian side an even balance must be achieved between diplomacy and deterrence," the Polish foreign ministry also said in its statement.

"It should be based on the principle of reciprocity and take into account our anxieties about Russian actions as well as be carried out in close and full cooperation between allies," it added.  

Meanwhile, Blinken said in a tweet after the talk that "Poland will always have the United States' unshakeable support for transatlantic security."

He added: "We will continue to consult closely with Allies such as Poland in our diplomatic efforts to deter further Russian aggression."

The US State Department said in a statement that during his talk with Poland's Rau, Blinken "emphasized our unshakeable commitment to transatlantic security as the cornerstone for regional stability and prosperity."

The statement also said that Blinken reaffirmed "strong U.S. support for Poland’s security as it continues to contend with Belarus’ exploitation of vulnerable migrants."

It added that Blinken and Rau "reiterated the United States’ firm commitment to Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity in the face of continued Russian aggression," and that Blinken briefed Rau on "U.S. efforts to resolve the conflict in eastern Ukraine diplomatically."

'Appreciation' for presidential veto

The US State Department also said in its statement that Blinken "expressed appreciation" for Polish President Andrzej Duda’s veto of "the media ownership law, noting that it reflected a vital contribution to safeguarding freedom of expression, the sanctity of contracts, and the shared values that underpin our relationship."

Duda said on Monday he has decided to veto legislation sponsored by Poland’s ruling conservatives and aiming to prevent non-European owners from holding controlling stakes in domestic media firms.

He told reporters he shared worries by some Poles about freedom of speech and that signing the bill into law could harm his country's relations with the United States.

(gs)

Source: PAPgov.plstate.gov