Warsaw (Poland) – Summary of a daring mission: BILD meets Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki (53) in the government guest house just a few hours after his return from Kyiv!
There, together with his counterparts from the Czech Republic and Slovenia, he met Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyj and his Prime Minister Denys Schmyhal. The head of the ruling PiS party, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, also boarded the train to Kyiv.
In the BILD interview, Morawiecki talks about …
… the trip to Kyiv
“I met my colleagues at the Rzeszow airport on Tuesday morning, from there we went to Przemysl on the border, where a train was waiting for us. The train took a long time. The trip through Ukraine alone took 11 hours. We only arrived in the evening.”
The politicians’ train journey through Ukraine alone lasted eleven hours – during which time they discussed the situationPhoto: Mateusz Morawiecki
… about the impressions along the way
“We didn’t hear any bombs or shots. Our partners in Ukraine chose a safe route. We are very grateful. But in Kyiv we saw deserted streets, blocks of flats in ruins, bombed by Russian tanks. Dreadful.”
… about dangers on the journey
“That wasn’t the most important thing for me. I thought of the women and children, the soldiers who are being bombed there every day.”
… about the reception in Kyiv
“President Zelenskyj and Prime Minister Shmyhal of course gave us a very warm welcome. We agreed on the meeting as a sign that Ukraine is not isolated. A sign of unity for a country that also fights for our freedom with lion’s courage.”
… about Ukraine’s President
“Zelenskyj is in excellent form, a great commander and statesman. The same applies to his Premier Schmyhal. They have not given up the belief that they will succeed in the end. And they won’t back down. The “
… about the meaning of the journey
“We have, in consultation with EU leaders, delivered an EU aid package that will include humanitarian aid but also defensive arms. Because that’s what Ukraine needs now to repel Putin’s brutal attacks: rocket-propelled grenades, Stinger-type anti-aircraft missiles, simply to defend its homes. That was important to me. And that is far more than just symbolism!”
Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki (2nd from left), his Deputy Jaroslaw Kaczynski (3rd from left) as well as Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala (red sweater) and his Slovenian counterpart Janez Jansa (left) traveled to Kyiv by train on TuesdayPhoto: KPRM
… about his Deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski’s call for a no-fly zone and an armed “NATO mission” in Ukraine
“Ukraine, as a sovereign state, can request this at any time. Kyiv wants help from the free world. That can mean establishing a no-fly zone or launching a humanitarian mission to save lives. NATO is currently helping with humanitarian aid. But the suffering of Ukrainians calls for action rather than words. If NATO gave clear answers, I would very much welcome that.”
… about the plan to deliver MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine – but only via the US base in Ramstein
“We are still ready to deliver the jets, but only under the umbrella and in consultation with NATO and the USA.”
… his demand on Chancellor Scholz
“I call on Chancellor Scholz, Prime Minister Johnson, US President Biden and French President Macron and all EU leaders to go to Kyiv as well. They should look into the eyes of women and children and help them to save their lives and their independence. There they fight for the values of Europe and the western world.”
Mateusz Morawiecki in conversation with BILD reporter Hans-Jörg VehlewaldPhoto: Wolf Lux @wolf_lux_photograph
… about the “turning point” announced by Chancellor Olaf Scholz in defense policy and in dealings with Russia
“I hope this turnaround will last. It is so important that Germany recognizes the true goals of Kremlin policy. Because if you want to stop Putin’s war machine, you have to stop oil and gas imports from Russia. For this there must be a complete energy embargo by Germany and the EU against Russia, and as soon as possible. When Putin runs out of rubles and dollars, his war will also be over. Because then his country will be broke.”
… about the power of sanctions
“For me there are no red lines on economic sanctions against Russia. One can defeat Putin militarily or economically. I prefer the economic way because it sheds less blood. But for that we have to be really consistent: no more exceptions to the blocking of banks. Hard-hitting confiscation of oligarch fortunes. No more visas for Russian citizens, freeze of all assets of members of Putin’s United Russia party. We have to be imaginative, no longer rule out anything. This is the only way we can defeat this evil empire.”