Russia not seeking fair peace, Polish president to tell US leader – Nauseda

VILNIUS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said after meeting with Karol Nawrocki on Thursday that Russia is not seeking a fair peace and that the Polish leader will convey this message to US President Donald Trump next week.

The Latvian and Estonian presidents and the Danish prime minister took part in the meeting in Warsaw, hosted by the Polish leader. 

"The aim was to align our positions and make sure President Trump hears the region's vision and our assessment of the current situation, the prospects for peace, and Russia's behavior," Nauseda said in a video comment released by his office.

"We all understand that Russia is not genuinely pursuing peace, that Russia does not want peace and that peace can only be achieved by imposing strict measures on it and by strengthening the sanctions mechanism," the Lithuanian president said. 

"The United States administration should also understand this," he added.

The leaders of the five countries in Warsaw also held a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

"And last night's events in Ukraine probably confirm and prove that we are right, that Russia has no intention of seeking peace, that it is trying to occupy even more Ukrainian territory and that it must be spoken to not in the language of diplomacy but from a position of strength," Nauseda said.

According to Ukraine's Air Force, Russia launched 598 strike drones and decoys and 31 missiles of different types across the country early Thursday, making it one of the war's biggest air attacks.

Nawrocki was sworn in as Poland's president in early August, succeeding Andrzej Duda.

Nauseda said he had no doubt that Nawrocki would be a good partner for Lithuania.

"President Nawrocki's views on support for Ukraine and on regional security issues are no different from those of Prime Minister Donald Tusk, although sometimes in Lithuania attempts are made to highlight differences between the two politicians. On geopolitical issues there are no fundamental differences, and Poland's position is very clear," he said.

During his campaign, Nawrocki opposed the idea of NATO membership for Ukraine and criticized Kyiv for not having "shown gratitude for what the Poles have done".

Under his slogan "Poland First, Poles First," he was critical of some of the benefits received by the more than one million Ukrainians who have fled to the country.

On Monday, he blocked legislation that would extend rights Ukrainian refugees have in Poland, taking particular exception to child benefits which he said should be paid only to parents with a job.