Andrii Sybiha holds talks with Radosław Sikorski in Poland

On Friday, August 1, at the invitation of his Polish counterpart, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Radosław Sikorski, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha paid a visit to the Republic of Poland. The meeting between the ministers and their wives, Tetiana Sybiha and Anne Applebaum, took place at the Sikorski Chobielin-Dwór residence.

The Ukraine's Foreign Minister began his speech at a joint press conference commemorating the anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising. He praised the heroic resistance of the Polish people during World War II.

"We are meeting on the day when Poland marks the anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising. It was a heroic resistance. Resistance characteristic of the free and unbreakable Polish nation. Such will to freedom unites our peoples," the Ukrainian Foreign Minister said.

The Foreign Minister of Ukraine also reminded of today's day of mourning in memory of the victims of the russian strike on Kyiv yesterday, which killed 31 people, including five children. He emphasized that russian killers must be punished for their crimes.

"We are strong enough to stop russia and restore a just peace. But only through unity and strength," the Minister emphasized.

The Foreign Minister noted the good and meaningful conversation between President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and new President of Poland Karol Nawrocki.

During the talks, the foreign ministers focused on developing intergovernmental cooperation, discussing in detail aspects of defense cooperation, including the creation of joint defense enterprises and joint weapons production.

The diplomats also paid attention to synchronizing sanctions, increasing transatlantic pressure on the aggressor, and discussed steps to fully utilize immobilized russian assets to support Ukraine's defense and recovery.

Andrii Sybiha expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Poland and every Polish family for the support provided to Ukraine from the first minutes of russia's full-scale invasion, for the open doors and hearts of the Poles. He assured that Ukraine would never forget this solidarity.

"Poland is a key logistical hub through which most of the aid comes. We want it to remain so, as it is in the interests of not only Ukraine, but also Poland and the whole of Europe. Moreover, it is extremely important to increase this support now," sressed Andrii Sybiha.

The Ukraine's Foreign Minister noted that the Ukrainian people highly appreciate Poland's comprehensive defense and humanitarian support. He expressed deep gratitude for the military assistance.

A separate topic of the meeting was the effective use of mechanisms within the EU and NATO, in particular the SAFE instrument, to finance the purchase of weapons for Ukraine. The ministers also discussed the practical implementation of the decision of the NATO summit in The Hague to use five percent of defense spending, in particular, to strengthen Ukraine.

Andrii Sybiha highlighted the importance of Poland's continued support for Ukraine's accession to the EU and NATO and of working together on this path.

“Ukraine is a contributor to European security,” the Minister emphasized.

The Ministers also summarized the interim results of a constructive dialog on historical issues. Andrii Sybiha noted that after signing a joint statement with his Polish counterpart Radoslaw Sikorski last November, the process moved forward: the first real search and exhumation work has already taken place. This shows that Ukrainians and Poles are capable of solving problems with mutual respect. According to the Foreign Minister, there is no alternative to reconciliation and unity of our peoples. He also confirmed his readiness to resume the Forum of Historians as a crucial platform for discussing the pages of the past.

"Ukrainians and Poles are allied peoples who have repeatedly proven this with historic joint victories. From Orsha and Hadiach to the "Miracle on the Vistula" and the current war. We know how to defeat moscow, and we are capable of doing so when we are together," emphasized Andrii Sybiha.

The minister also emphasized the active role of the Republic of Poland in the work of the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome and assured that participation in the reconstruction would be beneficial for Polish businesses. He outlined the approach of the Ukrainian side: the first to come to Ukraine's aid in the war should be the first to have access to reconstruction projects.

Andrii Sybiha also announced his intention to hold a joint meeting of foreign ministers of two formats in the near future: the triangle of Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, and the Lublin Triangle of Ukraine, Poland, and Lithuania. This is primarily aimed at strengthening energy security and countering russian disinformation.

The Foreign Minister also raised the issue of developing a direct rail link between the capitals of Ukraine and Poland. The parties agreed to intensify the relevant work.