Russia must be confronted with force, not concessions - Poland’s Sikorski

This was stated by the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland, Radoslaw Sikorski, who spoke in an interview with Visegrad Insight, Ukrinform reports.

"Modern Russia has broken both of these commitments, as it has introduced a much more authoritarian regime and has more political prisoners than under Brezhnev. At the same time, it has started to change borders by force. The OSCE was an idea to stabilise security in Europe with Russia’s participation. For many years and decades, the OSCE liked Russia because Russia had a veto right in it. However, by now, it has violated all assumptions and principles – the UN Charter and the OSCE, which was practically created on its initiative. This brings us to your rightful conclusion that, with Russia, as she is today, peace cannot be brokered because she wants to profit from aggression. Therefore, responding to this with force and not with concessions is necessary," stressed Radoslaw Sikorski.

According to the minister, Putin's goal is to achieve settlement on his own terms.

"But Putin’s goal is peace as well – only that it be on his terms, that is, as a result of the capitulation of at least Ukraine and preferably the entire West. There are three answers to this. One can capitulate, repel the aggressor, or at least strengthen the victim so that the aggressor himself gives up," said Sikorski.

The top diplomat also noted that in Western Europe, political elites’ consciousness is currently being "de-Russified".

"No one talks about transformation (of Russia - ed.) through trade (with the EU - ed.) anymore," added the minister.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, during an EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, the head of the Polish Foreign Ministry, Radoslaw Sikorski, called on fellow ministers to lift the ban on Ukraine's use of long-range capabilities, produced by EU member states, in order to hit targets deep inside Russia.

Photo: PAP