Zbigniew Rau made the assessment in a speech to an annual conference of Polish ambassadors in Warsaw on Monday, state news agency PAP reported.
The Polish foreign minister encouraged diplomats to work together and with determination "to fulfil the mission of Poland’s foreign service" and "combat disinformation."
Rau said that since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, everyone has been asking the question of “when the Russian aggression will end” and “what is the significance of the nuclear blackmail employed by the Russian leader.”
‘Kremlin hasn’t achieved any of its strategic aims’
Poland’s top diplomat stated, as quoted by the PAP news agency: "While these questions remain unanswered, it must be noted that so far the Kremlin hasn’t achieved any of its strategic aims, while at the same time the war has prompted unprecedented levels of cooperation between Ukraine and NATO."
He added that, in the face of Russian's aggression in Ukraine, Western countries "have stood united and in solidarity” with Kyiv, showing determination in providing military, political and humanitarian support.
Moreover, the NATO alliance has emerged “stronger and more important” than ever before, Rau said.
He told the conference that the war in Ukraine, "although every effort was made to prevent it," eventually "presented Poland and other countries in the region with an opportunity to prove themselves as responsible, loyal and stable allies," countries that "stand in solidarity with Ukraine" and “advocate for a world free of imperialism.”
According to the Polish foreign minister, Poland’s image on the international stage “has improved considerably over the past year,” with Poland now perceived as “a country of exceptional importance for security, not just in our part of Europe.”
Combating Russian disinformation
Rau also spoke about the "various negative consequences" of Russia’s war on Ukraine, "affecting the entire globe," such as rising inflation, "disruptions in the food market" and in the transport of goods, rising costs of raw materials and increased migration, the PAP news agency reported.
He added it was vital “to emphasise who is responsible for all these negative trends.”
The foreign minister said every Polish diplomat "has a duty to actively combat disinformation, especially Russian disinformation,” by presenting “the Polish standpoint,” particularly in countries in South America, Asia and Africa.
Rau said: “If our voice is absent, somebody else will fill the gap by presenting their own narrative.”
The Polish foreign minister cited the words of the president of Rwanda, who said that in order to succeed “we must stick together, be responsible and think and act with boldness.”
Rau urged Polish ambassadors to exchange views and ideas, and work together on "central issues," such as the war in Ukraine, international security and defence policy.
The annual conference of ambassadors is designed to summarise recent developments in Polish foreign policy and discuss plans for the future, according to officials.
This year’s meeting runs until Friday, and the ambassadors were set to be addressed by Poland's top politicians, including President Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.
The conference was also being attended by Rwanda's Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta "as a guest of honour and keynote speaker," according to the Polish foreign ministry.
Earlier on Monday, Rau held a bilateral meeting with his Rwandan counterpart during which the two top diplomats discussed Russia's war against Ukraine and a range of bilateral issues, the PAP news agency reported.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.
Monday is day 481 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP, niezalezna.pl