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Polish, German presidents discuss Ukraine, regional security: audio report

13.12.2022 14:15
Poland's President Andrzej Duda and Germany's Frank-Walter Steinmeier held face-to-face talks in Berlin this week to discuss the latest developments in Ukraine, including a growing humanitarian crisis caused by Russia's war.
Audio
Polands Andrzej Duda (left) and Germanys Frank-Walter Steinmeier (right) meet in Berlin on Monday, December 12, 2022.
Poland's Andrzej Duda (left) and Germany's Frank-Walter Steinmeier (right) meet in Berlin on Monday, December 12, 2022.Photo: PAP/Leszek Szymański

The two presidents also discussed the planned deployment to Poland of German Patriot air defence systems following a deadly missile incident on Poland's border with Ukraine last month.

Duda and Steinmeier additionally talked about bilateral relations, economic cooperation, including energy, and further support to war-torn Ukraine when they met in the German capital on Monday, according to officials.

The Polish head of state spoke of calls to bring Russian President Vladimir Putin before an international tribunal for Moscow's crime of aggression against Ukraine and of appeals to burden Russia with the costs of rebuilding Ukraine.

Duda advised Germany to prepare for a new wave of Ukrainian refugees as winter arrives, saying his country has seen a spike in arrivals as Russia continued to pound civilian infrastructure across Ukraine, knocking out heat and electricity.

History was also the subject of talks between the two heads of state, including Poland's insistence that Germany pay compensation for damage caused by the Nazis during World War II, a recurring point of contention between Warsaw and Berlin in recent months.

In October, Poland’s Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau signed a formal note to the German government to demand compensation for World War II.

Radio Poland's Agnieszka Bielawska has this report.

Click on the audio player above to listen.