Duda: EU, NATO must unite and say ‘stop’ to Russia's neo-imperial policy

"We are following every step taken by Russia, president Putin, every next decision he makes. We are following this very closely. We believe that, unfortunately, they pose a threat not only to Ukraine, but to our entire region, especially to NATO’s eastern flank and the entire European Union," President of Poland Andrzej Duda said at a joint press conference with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda in Kyiv, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

He added that the security architecture system in Europe, which has guaranteed peace in recent decades, was being destroyed now. According to the politician, this is a time of big test for European solidarity and unity of the European Union and NATO.

The Polish leader called for avoiding weakness and disparity between member states amid external pressure and games, underscoring that president Putin's main goal is to show the weakness of the EU and NATO.

"In this difficult time, we must show unity, overcome all divisions and different views on the situation. We must say a clear ‘stop’ to Russia's neo-imperialist policy. And let us remember that this struggle is not only for the sovereignty of Ukraine but, primarily, for the new world security architecture which we must all take care of," Duda stressed.

As reported, the presidents of Lithuania and Poland pay working visits to Ukraine on Wednesday.

On February 21, Russian president Vladimir Putin signed the decrees recognizing two self-proclaimed entities in the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine. The agreements between these quasi-republics and Russia provide for military assistance. Russia thus openly acknowledged its military presence in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

The leaders of the EU, the United States, Canada and most world democracies condemned the Kremlin's actions as a direct violation of international law and Russian Federation's international commitments.

On February 22, the Federation Council unanimously allowed Putin to use the Russian army abroad.

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