Volodymyr Zelensky’s words came at a meeting with Polish journalists in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Friday, Poland’s PAP news agency reported.
‘Thank you Poland’
The Ukrainian president said: “I would like to thank Poland and the Polish people for the unprecedented assistance extended to Ukraine and Ukrainians.”
“In particular I would like to thank [Polish President] Andrzej Duda and his wife for the way they have involved themselves in helping Ukraine,” Zelensky added.
‘Poles are doing everything to make Ukrainians feel at home’
Referring to Poland’s efforts to welcome Ukrainian people seeking refuge from Russia's invasion, Zelensky said: “Only in our home can we feel ‘at home,’ but the Poles are doing everything to make us feel that way in Poland.”
He added: “The historical issues that had been causing problems in our relations are nothing compared to the friendship that connects us now.”
The Ukrainian head of state dismissed reports in Russian media that Poland allegedly sought to seize western Ukraine as “propaganda” and "information missiles designed to sow panic."
‘If Poland is attacked, Poland and Ukraine will be together’
“Poland knows perfectly well that if somebody attacks it, Poland and Ukraine will be together,” Zelensky also said at the briefing.
“We are strong in a Europe where we are together,” he stressed.
He told the Polish journalists that Russian forces were “methodically” killing his compatriots.
He added that in his view, peace talks were nonetheless necessary, and it was his duty as the leader of the country to engage in dialogue, the PAP new agency reported.
Friday was day 65 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Poland on Friday reported it had welcomed 3.03 million refugees fleeing Russia’s war on Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, ukrinform.net