Duda: Agreement with Russia impossible without Ukraine’s participation and consent
Any agreement with Russia on the cessation of hostilities is impossible without Ukraine's active participation in these negotiations. No agreement with Russia is acceptable without Kyiv's voluntary consent.
President of Poland Andrzej Duda made a corresponding statement at a joint press conference with President of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Cairo on Monday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
According to Duda, Warsaw is committed to resolving the armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine as soon as possible.
"However, we as Ukraine's neighbors have no doubt about one issue: Russia attacked Ukraine without any reason or rational justification, Russia violates all norms of international law in this area," Duda stressed.
He noted that this armed conflict must be brought to an end by peaceful means. However, these methods, not taking into account the sanctions that must be imposed on Russia as an aggressor, "must be prepared with the participation of Ukraine."
"That is, Ukraine must be present at the table where the decisions on ending the war will be prepared through negotiations. Ukraine must voluntarily make decisions in the preparation of which it participates personally," said the Polish leader.
He stressed that Poland, like other Eastern European countries, could not imagine any peaceful solution without the absolute consent of Kyiv.
Duda stressed that this was absolutely unacceptable for Warsaw, as it is associated with the worst periods of being behind the Iron Curtain as a result of the Yalta agreements on the future of Europe and the world.
"We do not accept this and today we stand firmly with Ukraine. Ukraine must be part of this peaceful solution and it must prepare and finally adopt it. This is the only way we see a solution to the conflict in our part of Europe," Duda summed up.
El-Sisi, for his part, stressed that every effort should be made at the bilateral, regional or international levels to resolve the conflict between Russia and Ukraine peacefully.
As noted, he and Duda discussed Egypt's initiative for a ministerial-level group that could "meet and call on all parties to negotiate and find a peaceful solution" during visits to Moscow and Warsaw.
The President of Poland visits Egypt for the first time in 30 years. Earlier, Duda said that he would discuss with his Egyptian counterpart "several important issues" at the request of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky.
As reported, Duda said during the World Economic Forum in Davos that Ukraine could not export grain to Egypt and other North African countries due to Russia's blockade of Black Sea ports. As a result, famine and protests may break out in the region, and a new migration crisis may emerge. He noted that Ukraine covered 80% of Egypt's grain needs.
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