Ukraine Must Take Its Neighbors’ Position Into Account To Achieve Strategic Goals — Former Polish PM
To achieve its strategic goals, Ukraine needs to take into account the position of its neighbors, particularly Poland, regardless of the nature of bilateral relations. This was stated in an interview with Ukrinform by former Polish Prime Minister Jan Krzysztof Bielecki, drawing a parallel between Poland's European integration after 1989 and Ukraine's current path toward the EU. The former Polish…
Former Polish Prime Minister Jan Krzysztof Bielecki emphasized that Ukraine must consider the position of its neighbors, especially Poland, to achieve its strategic goals. In an interview with Ukrinform, Bielecki compared Poland's European integration efforts after 1989 to Ukraine's current path toward the EU. He recalled how Poland's first democratic government faced challenges in relations with Germany, its western neighbor, during discussions about European integration with France.
Bielecki recounted his first visit to West Germany as Polish Prime Minister, where Chancellor Helmut Kohl advised him to take Germany's position into account. Kohl explained that Poland needed to coordinate with Germany regarding the withdrawal of Soviet troops from the former East Germany's territory while primarily focusing on European integration talks with France.
Bielecki highlighted that this understanding led to Poland and Germany signing a treaty of good-neighborliness and cooperation, which accelerated Poland's European integration.
The former Polish leader believes this story serves as a valuable lesson for both Poland and Ukraine. Bielecki stressed that without considering one's neighbor, progress is difficult, regardless of one's feelings towards them. He noted that Mazowiecki initially preferred developing friendly relations with France but ultimately recognized the importance of Poland's geographical position, which made it necessary to take Germany's position into account as well.
Bielecki directly connected Ukraine's current situation to Poland's past, stating that Ukraine must understand the significance of Poland's role along its way to achieving its strategic goals. Polish political and expert circles often argue that Ukraine's international policy and European integration efforts increasingly favor Western European countries, particularly Germany and France, while not adequately considering Poland's perspective.
Recent reports have highlighted concerns about potential Russian preparations for escalating tensions, with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warning that the next seven to eight months could be critical for Ukraine, Poland, and the entire region.
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