West won’t be able to force Ukrainians to go for concessions in war with Russia - Duda
Western politicians are wrong in suggesting that they can persuade Ukrainians to make concessions to Vladimir Putin and cede part of its territory. Ukraine must restore its territorial integrity, the aggressor must pay military reparations, and criminals must be held accountable for their crimes.
This was stated by Polish President Andrzej Duda during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Ukrinform correspondent reports.
"I am 100% convinced that Ukrainians are fighting with all their might and will continue to fight. They do not rest hope with peace, which will imply Western Europe forcing Ukrainians to cede their land to Putin, to agree to his demands," Duda said.
The Polish president stressed that Ukrainians would not agree to this for multiple reasons.
"They will not agree to this because rivers of blood have already been shed, the Russians have destroyed their country. The very thirst for revenge and the need to win back what’s theirs is so strong that I do not believe that the Ukrainians will agree to a peace deal, which will include the Russians taking away another square kilometer of Ukrainian land," said the Polish leader.
He added that Ukrainians would not agree to this for political reasons, too. Duda explained that, if a politician is found who would agree to this, their political career in Ukraine would be over immediately.
The president of Poland noted that defending Ukraine is a joint decision of the Ukrainians, no one there has a different opinion on the issue.
"Therefore, if one of the Western politicians thinks that he will force Ukrainians to give in to Putin today, as Berlusconi (ex-Prime Minister of Italy - ed.) recently said, he is deeply mistaken," Duda said.
The president of Poland stressed that he would fully support Ukraine, as it is impossible, once again, to violate the norms of international law with impunity, and the world – not to react to it.
"I will not agree with Russia killing people with impunity, and the world pretending not to notice; with no decisions being made in relation to Russia; with Russia not paying military reparations for the losses inflicted on Ukraine; with not forcing it to finance the reconstruction of Ukraine," Duda stressed.
He urged Western audiences not to believe Russian propaganda about "Nazis in Ukraine," calling it "complete nonsense." He added that the Kremlin carried out an armed aggression against Ukraine solely because of "Russia's imperial ambitions."
"This war must end with Russia handing over the occupied territories to Ukraine, paying a contribution, and the criminals being prosecuted," Duda said.
He called on everyone to support Ukraine, because the truth is on its side and today it needs comprehensive military, political, and humanitarian support, as well as the creation of funds that will allow the country to rebuild and return to normal life.
As Ukrinform reported, the World Economic Forum (WEF), which is the annual meeting place of the world's political and business elite, is being held in Davos from May 22 to 26.
Russia's large-scale war against Ukraine has been going on since February 24.