Poland, UK vow to expand defence ties, reaffirm support for Ukraine

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski and his British counterpart Ed Miliband discussed defence and security cooperation, bilateral trade and continued support for Ukraine during talks in Warsaw on Tuesday. 

Ed Miliband and Radosław SikorskiPAP/Marcin Obara

Sikorski said Ukraine could count on continued political, military, financial and humanitarian support, particularly ahead of winter and amid Russian attacks on civilian targets. 

Miliband called on Western allies to stand with Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelensky, including in efforts to secure what he described as a genuine energy ceasefire. 

Sikorski said the UK was one of Poland’s closest partners and allies, both bilaterally and within NATO. 

He said the countries wanted to expand defence cooperation, including through the Narew and Miecznik programmes and ammunition production, as well as cooperation between BAE Systems and Poland’s state-owned defence group PGZ. 

He also praised the involvement of British defence companies in modernising Poland’s armed forces and said joint projects should strengthen both countries’ defence capabilities and industrial potential. 

The ministers discussed cooperation through multilateral formats, including NATO, the E5 group and the G20. 

Sikorski said Poland and the UK were also coordinating efforts to strengthen European security through the Coalition of the Willing and the E5 group. He said Poland should have a place in all major discussions concerning the region. 

He said Poland could play an important role in bringing London and Brussels closer together, referring to Prime Minister Burnham’s announcements on closer UK-EU relations. 

Miliband said Russia remained the aggressor in the war against Ukraine and was not winning the conflict. He also said Russian hybrid attacks affected Europe as a whole, but Poland in particular. 

Miliband praised Poland’s approach to increasing defence spending and said other European countries should follow its example.

He said Russian attacks would not deter Western countries from doing what was right. 

(sp) 

Source: PAP

Radio Poland