Duda: Poland to not recognize any agreements between Merkel, Lukashenko

Warsaw will not recognize any agreements reached on the normalization of the situation on the Belarusian-Polish border without its participation, including between Germany’s acting Chancellor Angela Merkel and Alexander Lukashenko.

This was announced on Wednesday by Polish officials, including President Andrzej Duda and members of the Polish government, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

During a visit to Montenegro, President Duda said that in a telephone call with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, he stressed Poland would not recognize any agreements that will be adopted without the Polish side. He noted that he meant Merkel's phone call with Lukashenko.

The president of the Republic of Poland stressed that Warsaw would only implement the agreements, in the elaboration of which the country’s government would take a direct part.

"We are a sovereign country that has the right to decide for itself and we will exercise this right without any conditions," Duda stressed.

Polish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lukasz Jasina told TVP Info on Wednesday that Polish authorities had decided not to negotiate with Russia on the ongoing crisis on the Polish-Belarusian border.

"Our government has decided not to hold such talks. Neither do I see any will on the part of Russia to hold such negotiations," Jasina said.

Polish government spokesman Piotr Müller said on Wednesday that Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki had a phone call with Angela Merkel about the situation on Poland's border with Belarus.

Earlier, Polish officials said direct talks between Western leaders and Lukashenko were not a good solution.

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