Without independent Ukraine, it is hard to think of independent and safe Poland, Lithuania or another countries of our region," said president Andrzej Duda on Saturday in Kiev. Poland has supported, supported and will proceed to support your right fight until the end of the victory," he assured.
President Duda resides in Kiev in connection with the celebration of Ukraine's 33rd anniversary of Independence. Together with the president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenski and Prime Minister of Lithuania Ingrida Szimonite participated in the ceremonies in Sofia Square.
During his speech, he emphasized, addressing the Ukrainians: “Poland is with you, it has been with you from the very beginning of Russian aggression.” He recalled that he was personally in Kiev with the Lithuanian president Gitanas Nauseda on 23 February 2022, the day before Russia's attack on Ukraine.
He added that since the outbreak of the war he has repeatedly met with president Zelenski in both Ukraine, Poland and global forums. "However, speaking before you, citizens of Ukraine, here in Kiev, on the 33rd anniversary of Ukraine's regaining independence, I consider it a peculiar honour," he noted.
"Your day of independency is also, in a sense, the feast of independency of all Central Europe, due to the fact that without independent Ukraine, it is hard to think about independent and safe Poland, Lithuania or another countries of our region. We know that and that is why I am all the more glad that we are together today," Duda stressed.
As he noted, for over 2 years Ukrainians have been fighting heroically for their country and defending independence, paying the highest price: the price of life, the price of blood. “Please remember that in this most hard test you are not alone. Poland has supported, supported and will proceed to support your right fight until the end of the victory," he declared.
The president of Poland stressed that Ukraine has rightly aspired for years to be part of a political community based on the foundations of Christianity, Greek doctrine and Roman law. These efforts are justified. In Poland, we know that Ukraine has been part of the European community for centuries – said Duda.
He pointed out that Poland's past "is the strongest example that determination, tenacity and boundless love of freedom must lead to victory". He added that it did not substance how strong and how large the aggressor, the possessor, or the occupier seemed.
According to the President, there is no uncertainty "that the courageous Ukrainian nation, united in its efforts and struggle, will defend its independence" and that the war will shortly end with the triumph of the forces of freedom over the planet of tyranny. Then, as he said, “a fresh planet will begin to be forged from the darkness of war, from the ruins and the burnt down.”
The president recalled that "a fewer decades ago, erstwhile Europe rose from the rubble and the demolition of German and russian totalitarianism, the process of rebuilding the community of continent states began". "A community based on the foundations of Christianity, Greek doctrine and Roman law," he added.
According to Duda, "Ukraine has rightly aspired for years to be part of this political community". "These efforts are full justified. In Poland, we know well that Ukraine has been part of the European community for centuries," he said.
"Let me remind you that Poles, Ukrainians, as well as Lithuanians, Latvians and Belarusians share a common centuries-old past and the resulting tradition of a large European state: the Republic of many nations. We are all its heirs on equal terms!” he stressed.
Duda assured that Poland would not remainder and leave Ukraine alone on its way to the European Community. He pointed out that unity and solidarity between us are crucial now.
The president recalled the past of Poland and Ukraine, including the conflict side by side in 1919–1920 of the Polish Army and the Ukrainian Army "against Bolshevik Russia, against Bolshevik aggression".
He pointed out that "the same community of values and common solidarity has united our peoples since the fall of communism". "Therefore, I am arrogant to say that Poland was the first country in the planet to officially recognise Ukraine's independency in 1991," the president recalled.
Duda turned to the Ukrainians. “We have supported your pro-Western aspirations from the very beginning. Poles supported you during the Orange Revolution and besides during Euromaidan" - he stressed.
At the same time, he admitted that “the nations neighbouring each another for many centuries always carry a immense baggage of common historical experiences, not only the good ones but sometimes the hard ones.”
"It is not essential to hide that Polish-Ukrainian past besides contains painful cards. We don't underestimate them, we don't erase them, we don't forget. We want to build the future on fact and sincere reconciliation," he stressed. He added that “brotherly nations are guilty of this, for what divides us is present absolutely stronger than what unites us.” "Unity and solidarity between us are crucial now, and that is why we all gotta strengthen it," Duda said.
He assured that Poland would not remainder and leave Ukraine alone on its way to the European Community. He pointed out that the place of independent Ukraine is in Europe. "With your determination, your will to fight, and today, unfortunately, too, you have proven to belong to the European household for a long time. Poland will not leave you in this fight," Duda said.
Saturday the Polish President's visit to Kiev is the 5th since the beginning of the Russian invasion – 24 February 2022.
From Kiev Jarosław Junko (PAP)
