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Poland, Estonia ready to help Ukraine with EU entry talks: FM

05.08.2022 21:00
The Polish foreign minister has said that Poland and Estonia are ready to assist Ukraine with future negotiations on joining the European Union.
Polands Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau (right) and Estonias Urmas Reinsalu (left) hold a joint news conference after their meeting in Warsaw on Friday, August 5, 2022.
Poland's Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau (right) and Estonia's Urmas Reinsalu (left) hold a joint news conference after their meeting in Warsaw on Friday, August 5, 2022.PAP/Leszek Szymański

Zbigniew Rau made the declaration after hosting his Estonian counterpart Urmas Reinsalu in Warsaw on Friday, Polish state news agency PAP reported.

Support for Ukraine

Poland’s top diplomat said: “Poland and Estonia are ready to give Ukraine all the necessary help in future negotiations regarding its membership of the European Union.”

He added: “We believe that granting Ukraine EU candidate status was the best strategic choice, for both Ukraine and the EU itself.”

Rau noted that both he and Estonia's Reinsalu had recently visited the embattled country. 

“We are deeply convinced that support for Ukraine must remain the highest priority for as long as Ukraine needs such support,” Rau said.

The Polish and Estonian foreign ministers stressed that their countries “do not agree on any kind of concessions to Russia that would undermine the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine,” the PAP news agency reported.

Rau reiterated that “those responsible for committing war crimes and crimes against humanity on Ukrainian territory must be held accountable.”

Polish-Estonian relations

Rau described Estonia as “a very important political partner” and "a regional ally." He said Poland and Estonia "share common interests and common goals" and praised “close bilateral dialogue.”

He told reporters: “Security and defence remain the key topics, as well as cooperation in the field of energy and infrastructure, and eastern policy, regional policy."

Friday was day 163 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

(pm/gs)

Source: PAP, gov.pl