Poland's Deputy FM: First, stop Moscow, then negotiate

Marek Prawda, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland, said this at the Via Carpatia 2024 forum on Espreso TV.

Prawda cautioned against pursuing false peace based on illusions. 

“Sometimes, when listening to colleagues from various European countries, it seems they believe that if our opponents, our enemies, meet one or two conditions, the problem is solved. But the enemy sees things very differently, and you can hardly trust their word,” he explained.

He stressed that for Russia, the West is viewed as an enemy, not because of its actions, but because Western civilization is based on rules and values that Russia sees as a threat. 

“Russia doesn't want to coexist peacefully in a community of stable nations, it thrives in chaos, where there is instability and dissatisfaction,” Pravda said.

Regarding NATO, Prawda emphasized that despite contradictory statements from across the Atlantic, countries are learning and growing stronger.

“NATO is not dead, it hasn’t stopped,” he said. “We don’t believe the new U.S. president can bury NATO, as he claims. We still believe in cooperation in a polycentric world because we need each other. While we may disagree on many issues, when it comes to key matters of transatlantic cooperation, we will work together because it’s in our best interests. For instance, we want negotiations to end the war in a way that helps Ukraine without rewarding the aggressor.”

Prawda also pointed out that during Donald Trump's first term, the U.S. was the first to send combat weapons to Ukraine, which gives some optimism for continued cooperation within NATO, even in a changing global landscape. "The strength of the Alliance cannot be overstated, and it's not just about bilateral cooperation; multilateral cooperation matters too," he added.

• On November 12, the Seventh International Forum “Via Carpathia 2024” opened in Kyiv. The event brought together Ukrainian and international experts, scholars, public figures, volunteers, artists, and educators. The forum focuses on culture, defense, energy, and economic cooperation in the fight against Russian aggression.