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Polish army chief, Ukraine's top soldier meet in Kyiv

22.12.2022 13:00
The chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces has paid a visit to Ukraine for talks with the country’s most senior military officer, among other meetings, according to officials.
Gen. Romuald Andrzejczak (right) and Gen. Valery Zaluzhny (left).
Gen. Romuald Andrzejczak (right) and Gen. Valery Zaluzhny (left).Twitter/The General Staff of the Polish Army

Poland’s Gen. Romuald Andrzejczak and Ukraine’s Gen. Valery Zaluzhny met in Kyiv on Wednesday, Polish state news agency PAP has reported.

Their talks focused on logistics support for the Ukrainian army, officials said. 

Poland’s General Staff said in a tweet: “The chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, accompanied by a group of Polish officers, paid a visit to Kyiv, where he met with the commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s armed forces, Gen. Valery Zaluzhny.”

Andrzejczak also visited Hostomel Airport near Kyiv, which came under attack in the early days of Russia’s invasion, reporters were told.

The Polish army chief talked to the officer in charge of defending the airport, who briefed him on the events at the time, officials said.

Meanwhile, Andrzejczak’s talks with Zaluzhny focused on "the current operational situation in Ukraine’s east and south," as well as “potential scenarios for how Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine may play out in the future,” according to officials. 

According to the Polish General Staff, the two commanders also discussed Ukraine’s requirements when it comes to logistics support for the army, “which is crucial for replenishing Ukrainian reserves and maintaining defence capabilities.”    

In addition, Andrzejczak and Zaluzhny talked about further bilateral cooperation in military training, officials said. 

Andrzejczak told reporters: "Gen. Valery Zaluzhny is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which are effectively containing the Russian army. It is our moral duty to support them so that they win." 

Andrzejczak also held talks near Kyiv with officials in the town of Irpin, which was devastated by the Russian assault in March.

Around half of the town’s housing was destroyed at the time, including residential buildings and critical infrastructure facilities, according to the Polish General Staff.   

Thursday is day 302 of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

(pm/gs)

Source: PAP, wpolityce.pl