Andrzej Duda: Zelensky should return to the negotiating table

Zdjęcie: Andrzej Duda, fot. Radek Pietruszka/PAP

I do not see any another force in the planet outside the United States that would be able to halt Russian aggression; the capabilities of the USA are incomparable with any other", said president Andrzej Duda on Saturday before leaving for Chicago. According to him, the president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenski should return to the conversation table.

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On Saturday, the President, who went to the United States to meet Polonia and attend the session of the UN General Assembly, referred to the Friday gathering of the Presidents of the United States and Ukraine in the Oval Office.

Meeting on the prospects of ending the Russian war against Ukraine initially ran in a comparatively good atmosphere, but ended with an unprecedented dispute, during which U.S. president Donald Trump and U.S. Vice president J.D. Vance participating in the talks accused the president of Ukraine of a deficiency of gratitude and respect for the US.

Duda has advice for Zelenski

When asked about this situation, Andrzej Duda told journalists that in his opinion since Russia's attack on Ukraine in 2014, no 1 has been able to halt this aggression. He added that U.S. president Donald Trump had made specified an attempt.

"In 2014, Russia invaded Ukraine. She occupied and annexed the Crimea illegally, in fact occupied the districts of Donetsk and Lugansk. During this time, the Normandy format, European, discussed and did business with Russia simultaneously" - said president Andrzej Duda.

In his opinion, nothing came from the alleged Minsk agreements. "It all ended with the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. After the sanctions he set against this gas pipeline were abolished, president Donald Trump said.

The president noted that during the Friday conversation on the Zelenski-Trump line, there was any stalemate and reminded him that erstwhile he spoke to the president of Ukraine before his last week's departure to the US, he told him that he should lead peaceful, constructive negotiations with president Donald Trump.

"Looking at the experience so far, I do not see any another force in the planet outside the United States that would be able to halt Russian aggression, given and the opportunities to support Ukraine, which they have, as well as primarily the military and economical possible of the US. These opportunities are indeed incomparable with no another (nationals-ed.)" - the president said.

"Today I say yes, you gotta go back to the conversation table, you gotta sit back at the negotiating table. Volodymyr Zelenski should return to this table, he should sit at this table calmly and negociate a solution that will make Ukraine safe, and we, who are an ally of Ukraine and support Ukraine from the very beginning, will support him in this" - said the President.

He pointed out that for a lasting peace in Ukraine is besides in the interests of Poland.

Who showed disrespect?

On the question of journalists whether Trump and Vance showed disrespect to Zelensk and the Ukrainian nation during the Friday meeting, he replied that there might be different assessments of the situation. "Let us remember that the gathering took place in the Oval Office, the central point of the United States, and any will say confidently, not without reason, that besides the central point of the world, in terms of politics. And all politician, even of Europe's top powers, understands that there are certain canons and standards of behaviour that everyone has respected so far" - said president Duda.

When asked if he wanted to support talks between the president of the United States and the president of Ukraine, for example call Trump or meet him during his visit to the US, he pointed out that "nothing can be ruled out". "No confirmation, no denial. This case is, of course, an open matter" - he added.

U.S. Visit Plan

During a Saturday conference before leaving for the United States, the president announced that his first destination would be Chicago, where he would meet Polonia. In this context, he cited the words of U.S. president Donald Trump, who expressed gratitude for his vote of over 80 percent of U.S. citizens with Polish roots. "I can say that I am so happy about this and I will congratulate my fellow citizens on this result, I will congratulate my fellow citizens on this unification in action, due to the fact that that is what we request in America very much" - said the President.

The next item of the President's visit will be fresh York and participation in the session of the UN General Assembly. The president did not hide that it was called "specially so that he could present his de facto farewell speech". At this point, the president recalled his first speech in 2015, during which he said the planet should be based on strong laws alternatively than on the law of force.

"Time showed how crucial the appeals were" - said Duda. "Especially today, erstwhile we look at the reality around us, at the Russian aggression on Ukraine, that is, the application of the law of force towards the sovereign, independent state which defends itself today" - he added. "We see how crucial it was at that time to talk loudly about the dangers that existed and that we were aware of. Which president Lech Kaczyński presented at 1 time, even in his speech in Tbilisi, Georgia, erstwhile Russia attacked Georgia in 2008. The president spoke then and about the danger that threatens Ukraine and in the position of the Baltic states, besides Poland" - reminded the President.

The president noted that Poland has drawn conclusions from this and strengthens its safety by, among others, building military capacity, expanding defence spending, the presence of NATO forces in Poland, and above all by the presence of US troops in Poland and by strengthening relations with the United States, which are a "key ally".

The president comments on Trump's words

Duda besides referred to president Trump's Friday assessment of our country that Poland "has stood up to the challenge and done a large occupation for NATO". "I am pleased to say that I am very assured to say: we are present in the awareness of the American policy, which is very important, and which is undoubtedly the success of our policy over the 4 years of president Donald Trump's erstwhile word and the fresh talks I had with president Trump and his colleagues" - commented president Duda.

PAP