The ministers discussed Europe’s security developments due to Russia’s hostile acts. Poland’s chief diplomat Radosław Sikorski presented the steps Poland had taken in response to the acts of sabotage orchestrated by Russia’s secret service on the Polish soil. The participants in the gathering agreed that more initiatives are needed to strengthen NATO’s joint deterrence and defence.

“We have a system of exchanging information between our security services. We believe it’s also useful to restrict the movement of Russian diplomats in our countries to only the country where they are accredited, or even narrower. We’ve done that. I’ve now closed down all of Russia’s consulates, which makes it more difficult for them to service agents, not only in Poland but in other countries. We need solidarity and we need to be realistic about Russia’s intentions, which are not good,” said Radosław Sikorski.

The meeting of the NATO–Ukraine Council included High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas and Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. The focus of the talks was on what Kyiv needs to keep on defending itself against the Russian aggression and to protect its people from the Russian attacks targeting civilian infrastructure.

“The fact that [Russia] threatens us is useful, because it focuses minds here on the issue of supporting Ukraine,” added Sikorski.

Minister Sikorski emphasised that it is necessary to consistently support Ukraine and to take Poland’s security interests into consideration in all peace talks. He confirmed Poland’s financial contribution to the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List and the Comprehensive Assistance Package, two NATO programmes designed to strengthen Ukraine’s defence.

Poland’s top diplomat also held bilateral meetings with Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares Bueno and the UK’s Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.