In a compelling address at the Ukrainian Breakfast event held on Thursday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Polish President Andrzej Duda expressed grave concerns over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions, declaring that Putin “wants to set the world on fire.”
Describing the conflict initiated by Putin in Ukraine as the largest in Europe since World War Two, President Duda condemned the use of violence as a tool to undermine the values of the free world, including dignity and freedom. He asserted that 30 years after the dissolution of the USSR, the world is witnessing a resurgence of Russian imperialism.
Duda issued a stark warning that if Russia successfully conquers Ukraine, it would signal a global call to prepare for war. He emphasized the potential threat of Russian aggression extending beyond Ukraine, targeting the Baltic countries, the Caucasus, and Central Asian nations.
“The Russians are counting on the West scaling back or ceasing its support to Ukraine,” President Duda remarked, underscoring the need for readiness for a prolonged struggle for Ukraine’s victory and subsequent reconstruction.
Highlighting the imperative to support Ukraine in its defense of free-world values, Duda called for international solidarity. “We must help our Ukrainian friends because the Ukrainians are defending the values of the free world, and we cannot forget this,” he stressed.
When questioned about the prospects of peace negotiations, Duda asserted that the decision ultimately rests with the Ukrainians themselves, firmly stating, “This depends on the Ukrainians themselves, on no one else.”
President Duda has been an active participant in the 54th World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, since the commencement of the event on Monday.