US Special Representative discusses blockade of Ukraine's border with Poland's Foreign Minister

European Pravda — Friday, 12 January 2024, 10:10

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski has held a meeting in Warsaw with Penny Pritzker, US Special Representative for Ukraine's Economic Recovery.

Source: Polish Foreign Ministry, as reported by European Pravda

Quote: "In response to the US side’s interest in the truckers’ protest at the Polish border, Minister Radosław Sikorski referred to his recent visit to Kyiv and noted that he was accompanied by representatives of the ministries of infrastructure and agriculture."

Details: The report indicated that Sikorski noted that the challenges in relations between the two countries are being addressed through political and expert dialogue, which the Polish authorities conduct on an ongoing basis.

The meeting was part of a series of intensive diplomatic contacts between Poland and the United States to strengthen cooperation and mobilise resources and assets to provide military, economic and humanitarian support to Ukraine, the Polish Foreign Ministry said.

"The two diplomats agreed that it is in the interest of the Western countries not only to maintain current military and financial assistance for Ukraine, but also to increase it," the statement noted.

The parties reportedly noted that the activities and initiatives of international partners, in particular within the G7 forum and international organisations such as the EU, remain extremely important for Ukraine's economic support and recovery.

At the same time, Sikorski noted that Poland has also maintained its engagement in multilateral formats concerning Kyiv and stressed that Ukraine's recovery and the prospect of its membership in the European Union are closely linked.

The statement said Pritzker praised Poland's efforts to support Ukraine, including military and political assistance, and highlighted the "impressive engagement" of Polish society and the authorities' actions to provide comprehensive assistance to Ukraine and support Ukrainian refugees in Poland.

"Minister Sikorski, on the other hand, underlined the crucial importance of US military support for Ukraine, which is fighting the Russian aggressor, while recalling the unprecedented scale of military and economic assistance provided by the EU and its member states," the Polish Foreign Ministry noted.

Background: Earlier, Adina-Ioana Vălean, European Commissioner for Transport, wrote a letter to Dariusz Klimczak, Polish Minister of Infrastructure, expressing concern about the continued blocking of border crossings with Ukraine by Polish hauliers.

At the end of December, reports suggested that the Ukrainian and Polish governments had agreed on an action plan to unblock the border, but full unblocking has not yet occurred.

Meanwhile, over the weekend, an agreement was announced between Czesław Siekierski, Poland’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, and representatives of the Oszukana Wieś (Deceived Village) movement in order to bring their border blockade in Medyka to an end.

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