Zbigniew Rau made the comment in a media interview on Wednesday, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
It came after an international peace conference last weekend in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where delegates from some 40 countries, including Poland, the United States and China, discussed ways to bring about a peaceful end to Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The meeting was designed to bolster support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s 10-point peace plan, which stresses the need for a withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine, ensuring energy security, bringing Russian war criminals to justice and restoring Ukraine’s territorial integrity as the key pre-conditions of peace negotiations, the PAP news agency reported.
The Polish foreign minister was asked by broadcaster Radio Wnet if Poland would agree to a “land-for-peace” settlement in Ukraine.
Rau said: “Poland is not in a position to agree to a ‘land-for-peace’ deal because this is not Polish land. In recognition of Ukraine’s sovereignty, of Ukraine’s right to self-defence, we leave this matter entirely up to Ukrainian authorities.”
Poland’s top diplomat added that a peace settlement should be based “on the principles of international law, which affirm the right of every country to independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Rau stated: “A land-for-peace arrangement would be nothing but an invitation, not only for Russian imperialism, but for any stronger country … to pursue a policy of ruthless aggression.”
Asked about Poland’s relations with Ukraine, the Polish foreign minister said that the two countries "have shared geopolitical interests, in the most basic sense, namely to prevent the expansion of Russian imperialism, which poses a threat to the existence of Ukraine, as well as to the sovereignty and independence of countries in our part of Europe.”
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.
Wednesday is day 532 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, wnet.fm