Warsaw: Polish President Andrzej Duda has expressed sharp criticism towards Ukraine and its NATO allies, accusing them of overlooking Poland's significant contributions to the ongoing conflict with Russia, and warning that Poland will not accept being marginalized in international decision-making processes.
According to Anadolu Agency, President Duda highlighted that both Ukrainian and Western officials have come to treat essential Polish logistics infrastructure, such as the Rzeszow airport and national highways, as if they were their own. "For example, I believe that both Ukrainians and our allies simply believe that the Rzeszow airport and our highways are theirs, excuse me, as if they were theirs. Well, it's not theirs, it's ours," Duda stated. He further emphasized Poland's readiness to assert its rights by potentially closing these vital logistics hubs if its contributions continue to be undervalued.
Duda pointed out Poland's continuous support for Ukraine since the onset of the Russian invasion, lamenting that such efforts have often been underappreciated or ignored. He underscored Poland's strategic role in military logistics, suggesting that this could be used as leverage in diplomatic negotiations. "I believe there were issues where we could have made it a little clear that we cannot be bypassed or ignored. And we didn't do that. And that was a mistake," he remarked, insisting on the need for Poland to receive proper recognition and respect from its allies.
The criticism was not limited to Ukraine, as Duda also addressed his concerns to major Western powers. He noted the necessity for discussions with allies like Germany and the United States, beyond bilateral talks with Kyiv. Citing the 2023 NATO summit in Vilnius, Duda mentioned blocking a part of the summit's conclusions that initially neglected Poland's contributions, calling the oversight a "scandal" and revealing it took over a year to rectify the document.
Despite the criticism, Duda defended the diplomatic value of his personal rapport with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, acknowledging the "certain political and image benefits for Poland" that have been recognized globally. Nonetheless, he reiterated the importance of Poland adopting a more assertive position to ensure its national interests are safeguarded amid the shifting security dynamics resulting from the Ukraine conflict.