Warsaw: Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of committing war crimes, coinciding with US envoy Steve Witkoff's visit to Moscow for discussions with the Russian leader. Sikorski's remarks were made during a speech in Davos, which was attended by Witkoff.
According to Anadolu Agency, Sikorski highlighted the deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure by Russian forces, calling it a war crime and asserting that Putin is not a man of peace. He noted that Russian strikes on energy and heating facilities are forcing civilians from their homes during winter, rendering large urban areas increasingly uninhabitable. Sikorski emphasized the ongoing exodus from major urban centers, including Kyiv, and stated that these civilians have done nothing to deserve such hardship.
Sikorski later reiterated his stance on US social media platform X, arguing for a resolution to the conflict that shifts pressure away from Ukraine and onto Russia. He stressed the importance of ensuring Ukraine's strong borders and recognizing that Putin is not pursuing peace.
In Davos, Polish President Karol Nawrocki also addressed security concerns in an interview with CNBC. He discussed tensions over Greenland and the war in Ukraine, emphasizing that Poland did not send troops to Greenland to avoid further complications. Nawrocki stressed the need for dialogue in resolving disputes and described Russia's aggression as the primary threat to European security.
Nawrocki highlighted Poland's preference for dialogue among allies and underscored the importance of resolving the Greenland issue in a manner that aligns with the expectations of the United States, NATO's largest contributor. He emphasized shared values of freedom, democracy, and independence in addressing these security challenges.
Nawrocki further noted that Poland remains in a constant state of hybrid warfare with Russia. He cited pressure on Poland's borders, attacks on infrastructure, and airspace violations as evidence. The Polish President, representing NATO's eastern flank, expressed that Poland is experiencing the consequences of the war in Ukraine.
Despite their different political backgrounds, Nawrocki and Sikorski have aligned in their criticism of any approach that risks appeasing Moscow, reflecting a unified stance within Poland's foreign policy establishment.