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Polish president at Davos urges West to keep supporting Ukraine

17.01.2024 18:00
Poland's president has called on Ukraine's western allies to continue to support Kyiv's war effort against the Russian invasion and to strengthen defence cooperation amid the threat from Russia.  
Polish President Andrzej Duda (second from right), Hungarys President Katalin Novak (first from right), Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya (first from left) and Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba (second from left), take part in a panel discussion entitled Defending Europes United Front, at the 2024 World Economic Forum
Polish President Andrzej Duda (second from right), Hungary's President Katalin Novak (first from right), Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya (first from left) and Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba (second from left), take part in a panel discussion entitled "Defending Europe’s United Front," at the 2024 World Economic ForumPAP/Radek Pietruszka

Andrzej Duda made the appeal at the 2024 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

On Wednesday morning, Poland's president took part in a panel discussion entitled Defending Europe’s United Front.

He urged the international community to "not stop in its assistance to Ukraine," as the Russian invasion nears the two-year mark. 

Duda paid tribute to Ukraine's continued defence against Russian aggression, stating it reflected an "extraordinary will to survive" on the part of the Ukrainian nation. 

The Polish president also stressed the need for European nations to "work closer together" in producing more ammunition for Ukraine, as well as to coopperate on building a "European tank" and developing the continent's air force, public broadcaster Polish Radio's polskieradio24.pl reported.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called on the West to provide Kyiv with "more weapons," especially aircraft, adding that "the side that controls the skies will determine when and how the war will end." 

Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouska said that "without a free Ukraine there won't be a free Belarus."

She added that until Belarus is "free, independent and European," it will continue to be "used by Russia to threaten Ukraine," and so a democratic Belarus will represent the "best assistance for Ukraine."

Meanwhile, the Polish president said that Euro-Atlantic ties were of "fundamental importance" and "profitable for both sides."

Duda stressed Europe should work to deepen relations with America, "regardless of who is in power in the United States," according to officials. 

Later in the day, Duda held talks with the Vice-President of the European Commission for Values and Transparency Vĕra Jourova, met with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, and took part in a debate on The Imperatives and Challenges of European Connectivity in Global Turbulent Times.

Poland's head of state was also scheduled to hold talks with United Nations Secretary General António Guterres, according to officials. 

The Polish president is taking part in the 2024 World Economic Forum until Thursday; guests also include Poland's Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski.

The event runs until Friday.

Wednesday is day 693 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.

Source: polskieradio24.plprezydent.pl