Poland’s FM to Russia: Stop sabotage or face more expulsions
Speaking after a meeting of the Big Five foreign ministers in London, Poland’s top diplomat warned Russia to prove it wants peace – or face further diplomatic action.
Poland’s top diplomat Radosław SikorskiPhoto: MSZ/Konrad Laskowski
On Monday, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski attended high-level talks in London with his counterparts from the UK, Ukraine, Germany, France, and the EU’s foreign policy chief, as part of the Weimar+ format focused on Europe’s security.
Following the meeting, Sikorski commented on growing tensions with Moscow after Poland’s decision to close the Russian consulate in Kraków. The move came amid investigations into Russian-backed sabotage operations across Europe, including arson attacks.
“Russia must decide whether it truly wants peace and will agree to the proposed 30-day ceasefire, or whether it was just another lie. Only then will we know who really wants to end this war,” Sikorski said, as quoted by Polish news outlet Onet.pl.
Responding to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov’s claims that Poland’s actions reflect “an absolutely Russophobic and unfriendly position,” Sikorski was blunt.
“A peaceful Russia sends agents to set fires, and when so-called Russophobes respond, we’re accused of hostility. This is hypocrisy. My decision was a response to a hostile act. Stop setting fires in Europe, and we’ll stop expelling your diplomats,” he said.
Relations between Warsaw and Moscow have sharply deteriorated since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with diplomatic expulsions and accusations of espionage becoming increasingly common.
On Monday afternoon, Poland’s foreign ministry summoned Andrey Ordash, deputy ambassador of the Russian Federation, to deliver an official diplomatic note revoking consent for Russia’s consulate in Krakow. The move comes amid escalating tensions over alleged Russian sabotage and intelligence operations in Europe.
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Source: Onet.pl/X/@PolandMFA/@sikorskiradek/@MSZ_RP
