Russian world associates with poverty, slavery - Duda

  • 2023-02-02
  • LETA/TBT Staff

RIGA - Russian leader Vladimir Putin is trying to bring "the Russian world" into Ukraine and Europe, but for Poland and the Baltic states "the Russian world" associates only with poverty and slavery, said Polish President Andrzej Duda at discussion Latvia and Poland: Countering Today’s Challenges Together.

He underscored that the events of February 24, 2022, changed the world's perception of security issues. Duda said that Poland and the Baltic states had been warning other countries for years that the consequences of the Communism in Russia have not disappeared, and sooner or later the imperialism will be visible again.

"We see that these concerns came true with Russia's aggression in Ukraine," said Duda, adding that Putin currently implements his policy not only on the history of the Soviet Union, but on more ancient history, wishing to renew former Russian empire.

Duda said that Poland and many other countries will do everything possible not to allow the war come to Europe.

He also said that Poland is aware that there will be another iron curtain with Russia. "As the Polish president, I am aware that I will build this curtain up to the clouds to prevent an attack on our country," he said.

The Polish president noted that Russia's war in Ukraine is perceived differently in different countries, such as Poland and Portugal, for example.

He also underscored that Poland and the Baltic states are working hard to explain the actual history and Russia to other countries.

"There is no areas of influence of Russia or the US. It is about whether we allow people to pick sides. Poland had a referendum on joining the EU, NATO, we decided our own future," he said, adding that Ukraine should also be allowed to decide its own future.