Alberto Rubio
Polish Chargé d’Affaires Karina Wegrzynowska yesterday reaffirmed her country’s twinning with Ukraine in the face of the war launched by Russia, which she described as “unprovoked and unjustified”. In the presence of the Ukrainian ambassador Sergiy Pogoreltsev, the Polish diplomat affirmed that “we are with you and you can always count on us”.
The Ukrainian ambassador responded by pointing out that “we are truly friendly countries” and recalled that Poland was the first country to recognize Ukrainian independence, on December 2, 1991.
He also thanked that “since the first day of the war (Poland) has helped us in every way: taking in refugees, sending humanitarian aid, supporting us in international institutions and, not least, also supplying us with weapons that we need to continue resisting and winning this war, in which we defend the existence of Ukrainians but also that of Europe and the free world.”
After recalling that the Polish Constitution of May 3, 1791 was the first enacted in Europe and the second in the world, Karina Wegrzynowska regretted that “300 years later, there are still countries that have to continue fighting against the Russian invader“. She added that “the Russian attack, a flagrant violation of international law, has profoundly changed the perception of security in Europe and the rest of the world”. She therefore insisted on the message of the Ukrainian ambassador by reaffirming that “Ukraine is fighting not only for our values but above all for our security, stability and the future of our borders.”
Wegrzynowska said she was “outraged by the barbaric attacks against civilians” and, after highlighting the solidarity of Poles “who have led an unprecedented social mobilization” by taking in more than 3.5 million Ukrainian refugees, she asked the audience to observe a minute’s silence in tribute to the victims of this war.
Pogoreltsev, finally, thanked Poland and Spain for their support for Ukraine’s candidacy to join the European Union, which will be debated next June 23 and 24, and also had words of thanks for “the Spanish people for their support for the refugees who are here”, before ending with the traditional “Slava Ukraini!” (Glory to Ukraine), which was chanted by the attendees.
At the reception, the Defense Attaché of the Polish Embassy, Colonel Robert Tkaczyk, was decorated; the Ukrainian singer Veronica Sluzalek performed the Ukrainian anthem; and the president of the Lublin Tourist Organization, Krzysztof Raganowicz, presented the program that this city will develop during 2023, when it will be the European Youth Capital.
