Deputy Prime Minister Radosław Sikorski in an interview with journalist Greg Mills: if we allow that the continent's bigger countries can change borders based on force, it poses a serious threat to peace not only in Europe, but also in Africa
05.12.2025
The Dailyfriend.co.za published an article "Why a bad peace in Ukraine is a bad idea for Africa," which summarizes the main points presented by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland Radosław Sikorski during an interview with journalist Greg Mills in Warsaw at the end of November 2025. The head of Polish diplomacy emphasized that Russia's actions against Ukraine constitute an attempt at recolonization, and that respect for international law - including the right to the territorial integrity - is in the common interest of the societies of Europe and Africa.
Deputy Prime Minister Sikorski spoke with Greg Mills in Warsaw, discussing, among other things, the ongoing negotiations to end Russian aggression in Ukraine, alternative models of economic growth (Polish and Chinese), and the shared values that unite Europe and Africa, such as democracy, respect for the rule of law, and agency at the international forums.
Deputy Prime Minister Sikorski expressed the opinion that “for there to be a long-term peace Ukraine must emerge with defensible borders, receive the resources to rebuild, and have the prospect of European integration”. He added that he fears that Ukraine, as the victim, “is being made to accept concessions, rather than ensuring the aggressor should not be able to do this again.”
Speaking of economics, Deputy Prime Minister Sikorski noted that the Chinese growth model assumes that “the state liberalizes the economy but keeps control of the politics”, while the Polish model combines economic opening with a liberal approach to politics. Considering that over 70% of Africans declare they prefer democracy to other forms of government, the experience in Poland seems more appealing than the Chinese model. “Democracy is not a Western imposition,” he argues. “It is a basic human need for citizens to have influence over their own lives”.
We highly recommend reading the full article: https://dailyfriend.co.za/2025/12/01/why-a-bad-peace-in-n-ukraine-is-a-bad-idea-for-africa/.
Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland