Poland has called for a NATO „peacekeeping mission” to support Ukraine in the war against Russia. „This mission cannot be unarmed,” Polish Deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, who traveled to Kyiv on Tuesday with the prime ministers of Poland, Slovenia and the Czech Republic, was quoted by the AFP news agency. You should try to provide humanitarian and peaceful aid in Ukraine. „
And the head of Poland’s ruling conservative party repeated: „I think we need a peacekeeping mission from NATO or perhaps a broader international structure.” The armed forces must protect them and be able to defend themselves. It must also „operate on Ukrainian territory” „with the approval of the Ukrainian president and the Ukrainian government.”
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According to Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, the three heads of government arrived in Kyiv by train on Tuesday to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He also posted photos on Twitter that showed him with his deputy, Jaroslav Kaczynski, Czech Prime Minister Petr Viala and his Slovenian counterpart Janez Jansa at a table with a map of Ukraine.
„Here, in war-torn Kyiv, history is made,” Morawiecki wrote. The EU supports Ukraine, which can count on the help of its friends. „We brought this letter to Kyiv today.”
Received Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday evening. Zelenskyj posted a video on Telegram showing him, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala and his Slovenian colleague Janez Jansa with other participants in a windowless room.
“Your visit to Kyiv at this difficult time for Ukraine is a strong sign of support. We really appreciate it,” Zelensky said.
In the Ukrainian capital, the four politicians want only with Zelensky He also spoke to Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmyal. „We must end the tragedy that is taking place in the East as quickly as possible,” Morawiecki said Tuesday evening via Facebook.
Polish government spokesman Piotr Muller had said earlier that the decision for this visit had already been taken at the EU Heads of State and Government summit in Versailles, France, on Friday. Preparations for the visit were carried out by the government in Warsaw for several days in complete secrecy. It was coordinated closely with EU Council President Charles Michel and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
„The delegation represents de facto the European Union and the European Council,” Mueller said. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the US government have also been informed of this measure. It was said from the EU circles that there is no formal European Council mandate, as no formal decision has been taken by the 27 EU countries.
High-ranking EU representatives do not want to travel to Kyiv
According to Michel’s spokesperson, von der Leyen and Michel themselves were informed about a possible meeting on the sidelines of an EU summit last weekend.
The Ukrainian capital has been bombed since the start of Russia’s war of aggression on February 24. Not only will the delegation send a very clear and strong signal of support for Ukraine’s freedom struggle across the European Union, but it will also provide a package of concrete support to Ukraine, said a government spokesman in Kyiv.
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When asked why EU leaders did not go to Kyiv themselves, Mueller replied: „This is a difficult question, but a matter of individual decisions for each European leader.” The purpose of this trip.
According to Ukrainian sources, Russian bombing has repeatedly led to the destruction of civilian targets in Kyiv. Only on Tuesday morning, the Civil Defense said, four apartment buildings were attacked in several neighborhoods. At least two people were killed. Moscow insists on targeting military targets only.
Strong token of support
The Polish government spokesman said the experts had carried out a thorough analysis of the security situation and concluded that „this visit should take place simply.” It is also meant to be a powerful symbol of support.
Political scientists in the Czech Republic rated the trip as an important signal. Peter Bohaczyk of the Prague Research Center AMO told CTK that Paris and Berlin have so far been the most important voices in the EU’s foreign and defense policy.
However, for a long time they remained very lenient and compliant with Russia. „The EU’s eastern wing should urge the western wing to give Ukraine more support, including military support,” said Josef Mlinik of Charles University in Prague. According to him, the victory of Russian President Vladimir Putin will have unforeseen consequences. (dpa / AFP)