Polish FM calls for EU steps to support Ukraine amid Russian troop build-up

Poland’s top diplomat has called on the European Union to support Ukraine amid growing military pressure from Russia, according to the foreign ministry in Warsaw.

Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau.

Photo: Tymon Markowski/MSZ

During a videoconference of EU foreign ministers on Monday, Poland's Zbigniew Rau called for the EU to "take concrete steps to support Ukraine" and prevent a "further escalation of tension," the Polish foreign ministry said.

At the same time, he urged the preparation of "possible response scenarios should Russia decide to escalate."

FM @RauZbigniew participates today in a videoconference of the #EU Foreign Ministers. 🇪🇺

The meeting focuses on the situation in Ukraine 🇺🇦 and Ethiopia 🇪🇹.

Ministers also discuss developments in Russia, Belarus, Georgia, India, Myanmar and Mozambique. pic.twitter.com/KZB99KtCcY

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs 🇵🇱 (@PolandMFA) April 19, 2021

Rau also voiced his solidarity with Kiev and reaffirmed Poland’s "support for the inviolability of Ukraine’s territorial integrity," according to the Polish foreign ministry.

Rau last week discussed an ongoing Russian military build-up near Ukraine with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg last Tuesday called on Russia to withdraw troops from Ukraine's eastern border in what the alliance said was Moscow's biggest build-up since 2014.

(gs/pk)

Source: IAR, gov.pl