Poland in Libya

One year after the Russian Federation attacked Ukraine, the Republic of Poland reaffirms its willingness to provide further military, political and humanitarian support to Ukrainians in their defence of freedom and independence.

We present the message by the President of the Republic of Poland, Mr Andrzej Duda, delivered on the first anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion against Ukraine.

The war has forced several millions of Ukrainians to leave their country. The Poles have welcomed these war refugees to their homes with open arms. By an unprecedented decision of the Polish authorities, the Ukrainians were granted the same rights as the Poles, the only exception being the right to vote.

16 November marks Foreign Service Day. So important to Polish diplomats and staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the holiday falls on the anniversary of the telegram sent on 16 November 1918 by Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Armed Forces Józef Piłsudski. In it, he notified the international community of the rebirth of an independent Polish state after 123 years of foreign rule.

“[...] there are no more occupiers. We’re our own masters and hosts,” rejoiced Warsaw politician and columnist Ignacy Baliński in November 1918. But Poland’s newly regained freedom still had to be defended against Russia – just as Ukraine does today.