Polish President Andrzej Duda supports Ukraine’s NATO membership and emphasizes its significance for regional security and unity against Russian aggression.
Polish President Andrzej Duda reaffirmed his country’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s NATO membership in an interview with Latvian television LTV. He emphasized the importance of welcoming Ukraine into NATO, noting the persistent requests from President Volodymyr Zelensky. Duda acknowledged that the full accession process would likely conclude post-war to avoid the immediate invocation of Article 5 on collective defense.
Duda highlighted that such a move would send a clear and strong signal to Moscow about the West’s and Ukraine’s determination for Ukraine to remain a free and sovereign state. He underscored that the Russian aggression did not begin on February 24, 2022, but rather eight years earlier with the occupation of Crimea and parts of Donetsk and Luhansk.
NATO’s Eastern Presence
Duda also emphasized the crucial role of the Bucharest Nine initiative and the increased NATO presence in Central Europe. He recalled discussions with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg prior to the 2016 Warsaw summit, stressing the absence of NATO forces in Poland despite its membership since 1999. Today, NATO’s presence in the region is a testament to the collaborative efforts of Central European countries.