POLISH NEWS BYTES
Compiled by Robert Strybel, Warsaw Correspondent
(Updated 3 February 2025)
Poland among 93 countries condemning Russia, supporting Ukraine Poland recently joined 92 other UN members to vote for a European-drafted UN General Assembly resolution that identified Russia as an aggressor and demanded the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity. But the US voted against sending it to the Security Council, the UN’s main decision-making body in charge of maintaining international peace. A US-drafted resolution called for peace but made no mention of Russia as the aggressor.
On the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the UN Security Council adopted a US-led resolution on the conflict that neither condemns Russia nor mentions its aggression. First, the US opposed a European-drafted resolution condemning Moscow’s actions and supporting Ukraine’s territorial integrity – voting the same way as Russia and countries including North Korea and Belarus at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
Then the US drafted and voted for a resolution at the UN Security Council which called for an end to the conflict, but contained no criticism of Russia. The Security Council passed the resolution, but two key US allies, the UK and France, abstained after their attempts to amend the wording were vetoed. The UN resolutions were tabled as French President Emmanuel Macron visited President Donald Trump at the White House in an attempt to address their sharp differences over the war. On Thursday, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will likewise visit the new American leader. Trump’s White House has upended the transatlantic alliance, currying favour with Moscow and casting doubt on America’s long-term commitment to European security.
That rift was laid bare on the floor of the 193-member UNGA on Monday as US diplomats pushed their limited resolution mourning the loss of life during the „Russia-Ukraine conflict” and calling for a swift end to it. European diplomats tabled a more detailed text, blaming Russia for its full-scale invasion, and supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Tusk calls on Europe to stand “united” vis-à-vis Trump’s agenda In his initial response to Trump’s inaugural agenda, Polish PM Tusk has called on Europe to stand “united” in offering a “clear, friendly, but firm” reply to President Donald Trump’s threats to introduce tariffs on products from the European Union. However, he has also called for the EU to maintain the “best possible relations with the United States.” Tusk, whose country currently holds the EU’s rotating six-month presidency, was speaking in Brussels where he told an informal summit of EU leaders: “We must be able to care for of our relations with the US, but we must also have a sense of our own dignity and strength.”
The Trump enigma – parroting of manipulating Putin? Trump’s apparent pro-Kremlin rhetoric has triggered a huge international backlash. More perspicacious observers have noted that his key cabinet members use less radical rhetoric than their CEO and still emphasize a “just and sustainable peace settlement acceptable to both sides.” Known to be highly susceptible to flattery, Trump could have detected the same trait in the Kremlin dictator whom he hopes to gently manipulate into a mutually acceptable compromise. The fact remains that international treaties are not drafted at televised press conferences but discreetly hammered out by diplomats behind closed doors. Polish FM Sikorski recently conferred in DC with Secretary of State Rubio but would only say the talks had gone well and Polish-US bonds remain strong. He declined to reveal any details.
Tusk, senior officials say Poland will not send its troops to Ukraine Polish Deputy PM/Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz has told parliament that the government has decided not to send any troops to Ukraine. “That is the position of PM Donald Tusk as well foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, he explained. Neither does the US plan to send troops to Ukraine. Earlier, the United Kingdom had proposed sending its troops as a stabilization force after the war ends. France had also volunteered to contribute military peacekeepers. Putin’s reaction: “We will not allow any NATO troops in Ukraine.”
Ending Ukraine’s bloodshed requires US support – Duda tells Zelensky Polish President Andrzej Duda recently told his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky that “there is no other way to end the bloodshed and secure a lasting peace than with the US support.” In view of the unfavorable turn the negotiations appear to have taken for Ukraine, Duda said: “I in the American president’s strategy that goodwill and honesty form the basis of US negotiation policy. I have no doubt that President Trump is guided by a deep sense of responsibility for global stability and peace.” Duda, who had totally identified with Joe Biden’s uncompromising pro-Kyiv stance, now seems to realize that at this late stage of the three-year war maximum demands will only prolong the bloodshed and destruction. On 24 February, Zelensky told a press conference marking the third anniversary of Russia’s aggression he would give up his presidency in exchange for peace, security guarantees and NATO membership for his Ukraine.
The US will not downsize its troop strength in Poland − Gen. Keith Kellog
Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, General Keith Kellog, assured President Duda that the US had no intention of withdrawing or downsizing its some 10,000-strong troop contingent in Poland. Duda informed him of Russian provocations faced by Poland on different levels including their targeting of NATO planes policing the country’s skies.
V-P JD Vance criticizes Tusk and Biden over inconsistency’s US Vice-President JD Vance has strongly criticized Poland’s Tusk government, particularly in public-media institutions, calling alleged dismissals of TVP, Polish Radio and PAP employees as threats to freedom of speech and rule of law. He also criticized the previous Biden administration over allegedly targeting Poland only under conservative Law & Justice rule. After Tusk came to power and started introducing liberal-left changes, only Hungary was attacked by the US and EU. Such a double standard could jeopardize Poland’s relations with Trump-governed America, he indicated. Tusk’s “new liberal leadership should be held to the same democratic standards as the conservatives,” Vance explained. But “progressives” and conservatives hold divergent views of democracy.
Nearly one-half of Poles want Ukraine in EU and NATO – Survey Nearly one-half of Poles say Ukraine should be in EU and NATO. Shortly after Russia’s 2022
Invasion, an overwhelming Polish majority had held that view. At present, 48% believe Ukraine should be allowed to join after the war, whilst 34% were opposed. The remaining 18% were undecided or had no opinion on the subject.
Russia wants to interfere in our presidential election – Deputy PM “Russian services hope to incite panic, spread disinformation and interfere in our presidential election to destabilize Poland’s political scene,” Deputy PM and Digitization Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski said recently. That is why Poland has built a “protective umbrella” to shield the election process from Russian disinformation and influence, he explained. That may also include monitoring the content of social media used to spread fake news, he added. The opposition has called that an attempt to introduce internet censorship.
Tusk refuses to accept illegals from other EU countries – Tusk Poland’s PM has warned that the Polish government “will not implement” the European Union’s migration pact if it involves requiring Poland to accept migrants relocated from other member states. The Pact on Migration and Asylum, as it is officially known, includes a “solidarity framework” designed to spread the burden between member states. Germany is known to have spirited some of its excessive illegals to Poland. Although Tusk may appear to have defied EU chief Ursula Von der Leyen, he had ascertained in advance that Poland would be absolved due to the two million Ukrainian war refugees it had assisted.
Poland’s FM calls Trump’s direct talks with Putin a mistake Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, has called Trump’s decision to phone Putin and converse with him for 90 minutes a “mistake.” “It vindicates Putin and lowers morale in Ukraine,” Sikorski added. He also warned that failing to ensure a fair peace for Ukraine would undermine US credibility and embolden China in its ambitions to take Taiwan. Poland’s diplomatic chief was speaking on a public panel at the Munich Security Conference alongside his German, French and British counterparts. The leaders of the US and Russia have agreed to meet in person in Saudi Arabia.
Mutual mud-slinging marks presidential campaign Tusk’s hand-picked Presidential candidate Rafał Trzaskowski recently accused his L&J-backed rival Karol Nawrocki of blaming European elites for Russia’s aggression. Nawrocki meant that those elites only raised a feeble protest when Russia invaded and annexed Crimea in 2014 but happily continued their import of Moscow’s low-cost energy sources. During a Sejm debate, Former Prosecutor General/Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro called PM Tusk “a criminal who should be behind bars, whereupon fellow lawmaker Edward Siarka stood up and shouted: ”Kula w łeb” (a bullet to his head). He was forced to apologize and fined $5,000 under Poland’s anti-hate-speech law.
Russian exports reaching Poland despite sanctions Polish Television (TVP) reported recently that Russian goods are still arriving in Poland. Their overall volume is roughly the same as it was before sanctions were imposed on Putin’s empire over its illegal aggression against Ukraine. The Kremlin has cleverly circumvented the normally crippling penalties by first exporting the sanctioned goods to a third country which then exports them to Poland,
L&J leader Kaczyński hospitalized in Lublin Jarosław Kaczyński, the 77-year-old leader of Poland’s main opposition party Law and Justice, has been hospitalized in the eastern city of Lublin. He was welcomed with flowers by the hospital’s director and chief physician when he entered its cardiology unit for what a Kaczyński aide described as a routine checkup. But backers of the Tusk government were quick to note that the hospital stay conveniently absented Kaczyński from a committee vote on stripping him of his parliamentary immunity.
Poland’s newest holiday honors WW2 Home Army 14 February is the date of Poland’s newest official holiday which honors the World War II Home Army, occupied Europe’s’ largest underground resistance movement. It was on that day in 1942 that General Władysław Sikorski, PM of the London-based Polish Government-in-Exile and Commander-in-Chief, announced the creation of the Home Army (Armia Krajowa), which replaced the earlier Armed Combat Union (Związek Walki Zbrojnej). At its height in 1944, the AK had close to half a million members under arms and was part of the Polish Underground State. That clandestine administration included its own judiciary, school system, publishing department and other facilities found in an openly functioning state.
Thanks to Putin better-to-do Poles are moving to Spain The Iberian peninsula (Portugal and Spain) are as far as one can move in Europe from Poland’s Eastern Flank bordering war-torn Ukraine. According to Spanish estate agents and developers, there has been growing interest in Spanish apartments on the part of Poles, Ukrainians and citizens of the Baltic states since Russia invaded Ukraine three years ago. In the third quarter of 2024, Poles ranked fourth among foreign buyers of Spanish real estate, trailing only behind Britons, Germans and Moroccans.
15 prize horses burned alive, 20 saved from stable blaze 15 prize horses died a horrible death in a 4 AM stable blaze in the locality of Kępa Oborska. Mazowieckie voivodeship. A caretaker phoned the fire service, but before they could arrive, flames had engulfed the entire building. Firefighters managed to prevent the blaze from speading to an adjacent building in which 20 horses were housed.
Suspected Starlink debris landing in Poland Recently, fiery streaks have lit up Poland’s dark, early-morning skies. Despite the early hours, social media have been all abuzz with speculation whether the light shows had been caused by meteors. Satellites burst into flames when re-entering the earth’s atmosphere, a phenomenon mainly visible when it’s dark outside. Identifiable remnants of Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites have been found in Poland, but the Polish Space Agency is checking whether other UFOs had reached the country. In January alone, 120 satellites re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere in the form of spectacular fireballs across several US states. The Musk-owned Starlink company uses a global satellite network to provide low-cost internet worldwide.
Microsoft to invest another $760 million in Poland Microsoft Deputy Chairman and President Brad Smith visited Warsaw recently to announce an investment of some $760 million in Poland. Microsoft has been present in Poland since 1992 and has invested $1 billion in cloud computing infrastructure and training programs for IT professionals, teachers, and students. Last summer, Smith had discussed the creation of a Polish AI Valley with PM Tusk..
Poland-shot comedy wins two BAFTA British film awards BAFTA, the British equivalent of Hollywood’s Motion Picture Academy, is a prestigious film-awards organization. The comedy titled “A real Pain” earned Jesse Eisenberg Best Original Screenplay and Kieran Culkin Best Supporting Actor awards, presented recently at London’s. Royal Albert Hall.
Polish restaurant named world’s best Neapolitan pizza parlor The Versace Neapolitan Pizza Association, representig some 1,100 pizzerias in 50 countries, has named Poland’s Zielona Górka (Green Hill) restaurant in Pabianice near Łódź “the best place in the world for Neapolitan-style pizza” in 2024. This is only the second time a non-Italian pizza place won that title, the first being in São Paulo, Brazil. Pizza originated in Naples but soon spread to other localities across Italy and worldwide, producing multiple varieties. Neapolitan- style pizza is very simple by American standards, consisting of very thin dough with built-up edges, tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, olive oil, sometimes Parmesan cheese and fresh basil. It is too thin to hold in hand and requires a knife and fork to eat. Most Polish pizzerias serve American-style pizzas.
