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Poland, Ukraine united by shared history, opposition to Russian aggression: official

03.08.2023 11:00
Poland and Ukraine are united by shared history and opposition to Russian aggression, a Ukrainian security official has said, amid diplomatic tensions between Warsaw and Kyiv.
Oleksiy Danilov
Oleksiy DanilovPAP/UKRINFORM

Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, said in a social media post on Wednesday that Poland was the first country to give Ukraine heavy weapons after Russia invaded in February last year, news outlets reported.

Ukraine and Poland are united by their common European history and opposition to Russian aggression, "bound in an unwavering alliance,” Danilov said in his message, as cited by the New Voice of Ukraine website.

'Thank you for everything'

He added that the Ukrainian people were grateful to Poland "for every zloty, every shell, and every woman and child that the Polish people have sheltered in their homes" since February 24, 2022.

"We are united by our shared European history, millions of family and friendly ties, and a common goal – the destruction of the Moscow monster that has encroached on our freedom and yours," Danilov said, as quoted on the nv.ua website.

He emphasized that Poland and its people have stood shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine from the very onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion, The New Voice of Ukraine reported.

He wrote: "Thank you for everything! We remember who was the first to extend a rifle and a loaf of bread to Ukraine!"

'Tension of war sometimes leads to emotional actions and words'

He also said that "the tension of war sometimes leads to emotional actions and words, but in our family, we are independent and can handle any misunderstanding without outside help," according to The New Voice of Ukraine.

Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Paweł Jabłoński said on Wednesday that his country wanted to have good relations with Ukraine "based on mutual respect and understanding of national interests."

Jabłoński was speaking after a meeting with a Ukrainian diplomat in Warsaw following a series of controversial statements by officials and the calling in of the Polish ambassador in Kyiv, Bartosz Cichocki, by Ukraine’s foreign ministry earlier this week, Polish state news agency PAP reported.

(gs)

Source: PAP, TVP Info, nv.ua