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Polish PM to urge German chancellor to strengthen sanctions on Russia: gov’t spokesman

26.04.2022 15:15
Poland’s prime minister will on Tuesday ask the German chancellor to step up sanctions on Russia for its attack on Ukraine, officials told reporters.
Piotr Mller.
Piotr Müller.PAP/Mateusz Marek

Mateusz Morawiecki is due to be hosted by Olaf Scholz in Berlin on Tuesday evening, they said.

Piotr Müller, the spokesman for the Polish government, told reporters that Morawiecki "will speak to the German chancellor about new ways to help Ukraine."

The Polish prime minister "will urge the German leader to go further with the package of sanctions,” Müller said, noting that such measures required unanimity among all member states of the European Union.  

Müller added that Morawiecki would also "call on Germany to help Ukraine by providing armaments.”

“The whole free world must help Ukraine stand up to the Russian invader, who is seeking to increase its influence over Ukrainian territory in the immediate future,” Müller said in Berlin, referring to Russia’s new offensive in eastern Ukraine.   

Polish sanctions against Russia

Müller noted that Poland earlier in the day imposed its own sanctions on 50 Kremlin-linked individuals and businesses, and was also planning to wean itself off Russian hydrocarbons by the end of 2022.

EU unity

“We expect similar measures to be adopted across the EU,” he said.

“Only by acting together, by closing our markets … especially for oil, gas and coal, can we separate Russia from its financing,” Müller added.

His words were echoed by Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk, who on Tuesday appealed to German politicians to put an embargo on Russian crude and gas.

Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk mówił , że należy działać wspólnie, solidarnie i konsekwentnie wobec groźby rosyjskiej agresji Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk. Photo: PAP/DPA/Bernd von Jutrczenka

“It’s necessary to stop Russian aggression,” Szynkowski vel Sęk said.

‘Stop Russia now’

He told reporters that Poland’s “Stop Russia now!” campaign would reach Berlin on Wednesday, aiming “to awaken the conscience of the German public” with large-scale outdoor anti-Kremlin advertising, the PAP news agency reported.  

Tuesday is day 62 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

(pm/gs)

Source: IAR, PAP