“We can confirm that Russian forces have entered the territory of the self-proclaimed republics and thus have de facto violated the borders of Ukraine,” said the Minister of National Defence Mariusz Błaszczak on Tuesday. “We expect serious and not symbolic sanctions against Russia because only such sanctions can stop the rebuilding of the Russian Empire,” he added.
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Monday recognizing the separatist “people’s republics” in Donbas. Putin and the separatist leaders in Donbas have also signed friendship, cooperation and mutual aid agreements with Russia. As reported by Reuters, Putin gave the order to Russian troops to enter the territory of eastern Ukraine.
On Tuesday morning on the Polish Radio Program 1, Mariusz Błaszczak was asked whether he could confirm these reports.
“We can confirm this and, as the Russian President has publicly stated, Russian forces have invaded the territory of the self-proclaimed republics, thereby de facto violating Ukraine’s borders. De facto, international law has been violated. There is no permit for such activities,” said Błaszczak.
He also recalled that Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki had requested a European Council meeting and that President Andrzej Duda had spoken to the Ukrainian President.
“We expect serious sanctions, not symbolic ones. Only severe sanctions can stop Vladimir Putin’s rebuilding of the Russian Empire,” assessed Błaszczak.