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Russia waging war against EU, not just Ukraine: Polish PM

03.11.2022 19:00
The Polish prime minister has said that Russia has not only invaded Ukraine, but also started a war against the European Union.
Audio
  • Polish PM attended Western Balkans Summit in Berlin on Thursday
Polands Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki talks to reporters after the Western Balkans Summit in Berlin, Germany, on Thursday, November 3, 2022.
Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki talks to reporters after the Western Balkans Summit in Berlin, Germany, on Thursday, November 3, 2022.Twitter/Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland

Mateusz Morawiecki made the remark at a briefing in the German capital Berlin on Thursday, Polish state news agency PAP reported.

Earlier, the Polish prime minister took part in a summit of the Berlin Process, an initiative to facilitate the integration of the Western Balkan countries with the European Union.

In attendance were the leaders of the six countries of the Western Balkans: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, officials said.

Also present were leaders from other countries taking part in the Berlin process: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy and Slovenia, as well as Britain, reporters were told.

In addition, the summit was attended by top officials from the EU’s executive Commission and various international organsations, news outlets reported.

Discussions focused on prospects for further integration of the Western Balkan countries, energy security and ways to strengthen cooperation, according to officials. 

‘Poland continues efforts to promote European integration’

Morawiecki told reporters afterwards: “Today, Poland continued its efforts to promote European integration. This is important to us because three of the six Western Balkans countries are already NATO members.”

He added: “These countries are particularly vulnerable and attacked by Russian propaganda. We expand the security area."

‘Russia started war not only against Ukraine, but also against EU’

Morawiecki told reporters that, during the Berlin talks, he had emphasised “the connection between the energy crisis, Russia's aggression against Ukraine and the process of integration, including in the field of energy.”

He stated: “Russia has started a war not only against Ukraine, but also against the European Union.”

The Polish prime minister said that “the Kremlin is trying in vain to undermine the stability of the entire European continent by attacking us with propaganda and disinformation and stoking internal conflicts, both between and within countries.” 

He added: “Diversification of gas supply sources is important, but also energy independence from Russian hydrocarbons.”

Morawiecki told reporters he had also raised the importance of continued EU support to Ukraine, adding: “Today, Ukraine is fighting for freedom, but also for a better tomorrow for the whole EU, including Poland.”

Thursday was day 253 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

(pm/gs)

Source: PAP, gov.pl

Click on the audio player above for a report by Radio Poland's Tomasz Ferenc.