Polish president stresses support for 'full' Ukrainian sovereignty

By Jo Harper

WARSAW (AA) – Polish President Duda said Monday that Ukraine must regain control over all its internationally recognized territories, including Crimea, after doubts were raised about his commitment last week. “I want to emphasize this strongly,” Andrzej Duda said during an East African tour, speaking with Kenya’s president, William Ruto.

A statement by Duda last week raised doubts about his commitment to supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia. In an interview with Kanal Zerol last Friday, Duda was asked whether he believed Ukraine would retake Crimea from the Russians. “I don't know whether it will regain Crimea, but I believe it will regain (eastern territories of) Donetsk and Luhansk. Crimea is also special for historical reasons, because in fact, if we look historically, it was under Russia's control for a long time,” he said.

Poland – one of the main backers of Kyiv since the war with Russia started in February 2022 – saw a new government elected last October, after ruling Law and Justice (PiS) ran an election campaign that in part called for more muted support.

Duda posted a statement on X after his Friday interview saying: "The Russian attack on Ukraine and occupation of internationally recognized territories of Ukraine, including Crimea (2014), is a crime."

Saying the Friday interview was “casual,” he added: "However, when it comes to our position on Russian aggression against Ukraine and how this war must end, it is the restoration of international law. This means the return of Ukraine to its internationally recognized borders, to full control over the territories that are internationally recognized territories of Ukraine, including Crimea. I want to emphasize this strongly,” he said.

“Russia cannot win this war, because if it wins, it will attack again,” he said.