The republic’s president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa on Tuesday promised his Polish counterpart attention and solidarity regarding Poland’s concerns about “movements that call into question the eastern borders of the European Union and NATO”.
At a joint press conference with the President of the Polish Republic, Andrzej Duda, as part of the official visit to Warsaw that ends today, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa left “a special word” to that country “for the role it has played in the context of the situation in Ukraine”.
“We are united and we stand in solidarity without hesitation, which is why I have taken note of Polish concerns about what could be perceived as the need to be alert to movements that question the eastern borders of the European Union and NATO. We are considerate. , supportive and operational.”he stressed.
According to Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the “challenge that arises in this conflict, which is not just a European conflict, is a global conflict, it is a difficult challenge, but essential”.
“To ignore it or not be available to face it, as far as everyone’s capabilities allow, would be a historic mistake and neither of our two peoples, countries and states has made that mistake. This explains why there is practically a unity on this subject in Portugal. issue,” he said.
In the head of state’s analysis, Portugal, followed by Poland, is “the place where public opinion is clearer about the position that the Portuguese state should take on the Ukrainian situation”, leading to “a national convergence that is sensitive for the principles that are the cause”.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa pointed out that the “Polish position regarding the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation” was “always constant” whether from a political, diplomatic, military, humanitarian or financial point of view.
“As Ukraine knows and our other allies know, the Portuguese position is exactly identical. It is and will be because we cannot admit the violation of the fundamental principles of the international community, international law and the Charter of the United Nations, and therefore the Ukrainian people have the right as an independent state to protect its territorial integrity, which fundamental to the exercise of its sovereignty, and to do so with the solidarity of all those who recognize themselves in these principles and do not accept the continued violation of what are values that must unite the international community,” he said.
According to the President of the Republic, it is necessary to pay attention “to the direct and indirect ways of waging war”.
“War is being waged in many ways today. We are well aware of what is happening on other continents. (…) National forces have been deployed on other continents and we know how destabilizing interventions there began by being indirect and later direct to be,” he said. said. .
In turn, the Polish president “thanked Portugal for the help it has provided so far”, i.e. the support to the Ukrainians, for example with humanitarian aid”.
Andrzej Duda also answered questions about the presence of the Wagner group, referring to it as “a fact on the territory of Belarus”.
“I would like to remind you that this hybrid attack on Polish borders has been going on for a long time, especially in the second half of 2022 and in the first half of this year, which has eased, but the pressure in recent Times have increased and it is clear that this attack will be sponsored by the Belarusian regime and also by the Russian authorities. We consider this one of the elements of the wide-ranging operation carried out by Russia,” he said.
The Polish president also stated that “protecting the borders is one of the most discussed topics in recent weeks and sending more troops to support the police forces and also the soldiers”.
On August 10, it was announced that Poland will increase its military strength on the border with Russian ally Belarus to about 10,000 troops as a deterrent.
Source: DN
