Poland's Foreign Minister Sikorski to Russia: "Don't you have enough territory?"

Berliner Zeitung Poland's Foreign Minister Sikorski to Russia: "Don't you have enough territory?" Katerina Alexandridi • 12 hours • 2 minutes read Poland's Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski used his annual speech to the lower house of parliament, the Sejm, to sharply condemn Russia's actions in Ukraine. Against the backdrop of US-mediated talks to end the war, he posed a rhetorical question to Vladimir Putin: "Don't you have enough territory?" Poland, an EU and NATO member, is a close military and political ally of Ukraine, which has been under attack by Russia. It also feels threatened by Moscow and has been massively rearming for several years. "Fear and the question of what will happen have taken root in Polish homes," Sikorski said on Wednesday. "Are we also threatened by Russian aggression? Are relations between Europe and the US heading for a crisis? Can Europe quickly improve its defense capabilities?" he added. Addressing Russia's leadership, Sikorski asked: "Don't you have enough land? Eleven time zones and still not enough? Take care to better regulate what lies within your borders under international law." Russia is already the largest country in the world in terms of area. Poland aims to spend 5 percent of its GDP on defense by 2026, having already reached 4.7 percent – ​​the highest figure of all NATO members. Sikorski also spoke positively about the billion-euro infrastructure and defense package passed in Germany. "As long as Germany is a member of the EU and NATO, I fear German aversion to rearmament more than I fear the German army," Sikorski said in his keynote foreign policy speech to parliament in Warsaw. Sikorski further stated that the new coalition government's changing attitude toward security policy challenges is being closely monitored. To avoid fears and fully exploit opportunities, they must act together among their allies. "Poland and Germany bear an extraordinary responsibility for security in Europe," Sikorski said. (with dpa)