The Polish president Andrzej Duda expressed doubt that Ukraine will be able to regain control of Crimeaannexed by Russia in 2014. His speech sparked harsh criticism by representatives of the ruling coalition and a reaction from the Ukrainian ambassador in Warsaw, reports “Reuters”.
On Friday evening, an interview of Duda was published on the YouTube channel Kanal Zero, the presenters of which asked the president whether he really believes that Crimea will return to the control of Ukraine.
“It’s hard for me to answer that question,” Duda said. “I don’t know if he will be able to return Crimea, but I believe he will return Donetsk and Luhansk.”
The Polish president added that Crimea is “a special place… and for historical reasons.” “Because actually, if we look at history it was in Russian hands most of the timeDuda added.
The Polish president is known as one of the staunchest supporters of Ukraine in Europe. During the full-scale Russian invasion, he repeatedly visited Kiev and expressed support for the country’s authorities. Palder remains one of the largest military donors of Ukraine in Europe and has also taken in millions of Ukrainian refugees.
The statements of Duda, who is a political ally of the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party, which recently went into opposition, drew sharp criticism from representatives of the ruling coalition.
“I would like to remind Mr. Duda that in our country there are cities that in their history belonged to Poland for a shorter period of time than to another country,” Roman Gertich, a member of the Sejm, wrote in X. “A completely stupid statement!”
The Ukrainian ambassador to Poland, Vasyl Zvarich also responded to Duda’s words.
“Crimea is Ukraine, that’s how it is and that’s how it will be. The basis is international law,” Zvarich wrote on the X Network. “Russia’s temporary occupation of Crimea is a war crime for which it will be punished.” The de-occupation of Crimea is our shared task and responsibility with the free world.
Polish President Andrzej Duda responded to criticism of his commentsthat Ukraine may not be able to regain control of Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014.
“My actions and position regarding Russia’s brutal aggression against Ukraine have been clear from day one: Russia violates international law, it is an aggressor and an occupier. Russia’s attack on Ukraine and its occupation of internationally recognized territories of Ukraine, including Crimea, are a crime,” the Polish president said in a statement posted Saturday on the X social network.
Andrzej Duda expressed confidence that the war between Ukraine and Russia “cannot end with a victory for Russia”.
“Ukraine must win because the free world must win this war,” Duda said.
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