There is an old saying and it works both ways: show me what friends you have and I will tell you who you are – said Radosław Sikorski, Minister of Foreign Affairs, in “Kropka nad i” on TVN24, referring to the meeting between President Andrzej Duda and Donald Trump. He assessed that this visit was “risky”, but in his opinion “there are no losses”. – The gentlemen agree ideologically on matters of morality and worldview – he added.
Andrzej Duda met with Donald Trump on Wednesday at Trump Tower in New York. The politicians talked about, among others, NATO, the war in Ukraine and the Middle East. – It was a friendly meeting in a very nice atmosphere – said the Polish president after dinner with the former president of the United States. – The long, almost two-and-a-half-hour conversation took place in an excellent atmosphere – added Presidential Minister Wojciech Kolarski after the meeting, saying that “it was excellent.” As he reported, during the meeting, Donald Trump “emphasized his sympathy for Poland and his appreciation for Poles.”
Sikorski: It's good that the president raised the topics I asked him about
This meeting was commented on by Radosław Sikorski, Minister of Foreign Affairs, in “Kropka nad i” on TVN24. – I talked to the president before his departure to the United States and, with the authorization of the Council of Ministers, I asked him to raise these issues with President Trump. He moved. This is good, not bad, said the head of Polish diplomacy.
As he continued, the idea was to convince Trump to “remove the ban that has so far prevented the passage of appropriate aid bills for Ukraine.” – Because Speaker (Mike – ed.) Johnson was put under pressure by President Trump's faction in the House of Representatives, which delayed this matter since August last year. And here the government and the president have the same position and are striving for the same thing. We are showing that we can act together on the most important issues for Poland, he added.
– I was worried about the risks associated with this meeting. Let us remember that Donald Trump is not only a former president, but also a candidate and a defendant. He has exceptional reasons to be happy with this meeting. Imagine, one day you have to explain how you paid a porn star (the case involving the payment of Stormy Daniels – ed.), and the next the president of a medium-sized country comes over for dinner. I think it was a very nice two hours spent by Donald Trump, said Sikorski.
– I think that if Donald Trump were to win (the US presidential election – ed.), President Duda would score points – he added.
Sikorski: the visit is risky, but there are no losses
The head of Polish diplomacy also commented on the personal relations of President Duda and Trump. – There's an old saying, and it works both ways: show me what friends you have and I'll tell you who you are. The gentlemen agree ideologically in matters of morality and worldview. And here, I think, there is a thread of understanding between them, he said.
He assessed that this visit was “risky”, but in his opinion “there are no losses”.
Sikorski: If the American package passes, Russia will not be able to win either this year or next year
Radosław Sikorski also commented more broadly on the issue of the aid package for Ukraine. House Speaker Mike Johnson said a vote on the matter could take place on Saturday evening.
– Let's hope this happens, although I won't be happy before the votes, because we've already had a few such false dawns. I hope that former President Trump took to heart what President Duda told him yesterday, he commented.
According to Sikorski, “if the American package passes, Russia will not be able to win either this year or next year.” – But this is serious money. As the European Union and member states, we have already transferred well over EUR 100 billion to Ukraine. This American package, depending on which version is adopted, is mainly weapons, it is (value – ed.) between EUR 40 and 60 billion – he pointed out.
Sikorski: the equipment is ready
According to the head of Polish diplomacy, “next year Russia will start to have economic problems”, which will be the result of the imposed sanctions. At the same time, he added that “Ukraine has every chance to reorganize itself and impose such costs on Russia that Putin will finally admit that this invasion was a mistake.” – A year ago, Ukraine was on the offensive and was regaining territory. They, we, were a bit euphoric. Today it's a little worse. The American package will be passed soon. The fate of this war may turn again, which is something I would really care about – said the guest of “Kropka nad i”.
– If this American package is passed, I know that the equipment is ready. As soon as the act is signed, the air bridge will start – said the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Sikorski: if the American package is passed, the equipment will be readyTVN24
Sikorski on the death of a Pole in the Gaza Strip: The Israelis dismissed those responsible
Sikorski also referred to the Israeli attack on a humanitarian convoy in the Gaza Strip, in which Pole Damian Soból was killed. It happened at the beginning of April.
He recalled that an investigation is underway in this case. – There is also an international study. The Israelis dismissed those responsible, he added. – Apparently there were also some shortcomings on the part of the (humanitarian – ed.) organization, such as notifying them too late and not having appropriate markings on the roofs of the vehicles. And a terrible tragedy occurred, Sikorski said.