Poland’s foreign minister, Radosław Sikorski, reacted to Friday’s Trump‑Putin talks in Alaska by condemning the push for peace through the surrender of Ukrainian territory, accusing Russian imperialism of driving aggression, and noting that Russian media are euphoric over the encounter.
Radosław Sikorski Comments on the Alaska Meeting
Trump’s actions spark controversy. “They’re bold, but we must keep our fingers crossed that they succeed,” Sikorski told TVN24 when asked how Trump received Putin in Alaska. “We must keep our fingers crossed for the United States for involving its political capital to end the war.”
He added that he currently sees no prospects for the meeting to resolve things. When the host asked whether he had heard the New York Times story that Trump had agreed to Putin’s demands for Ukraine to hand over parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in exchange for a peace deal, Sikorski said he does not know if it was true, although he consulted the Ukraine issue with both the Prime Minister and the allies. “I get the impression there is also a transatlantic agreement that Ukraine should negotiate some hypothetical sacrifices, because Ukraine will live with the consequences of those sacrifices,” he answered.
“Things Concerningly Emerge”
Sikorski admitted that after Trump’s talks with Putin “things have emerged that are concerning.” He cautioned that hard sanctions were supposed to take effect on 8 August, yet they are not in place. He reminded that earlier talks addressed a ceasefire as time for final peace negotiations; that option also disappeared. Although he says this is not unprecedented in such negotiations, it can be defended, but “the key conditions for peace remain vital.”
“Ukraine needs no outside help to capitulate,” he added. “The entire West’s effort should focus on getting Vladimir Putin to abandon the plan for conquering Ukraine—whether militarily or politically.” He reiterated, “I agree with Putin that to achieve peace, we must eliminate the causes of aggression, and that cause is Russian imperialism.” Sikorski was also asked whether the Alaska meeting could signal the end of Russia’s isolation He said, “I read it as the US president telling Putin: ‘I give you a chance to exit this criminal war, take it.’” He also praised the role of Melania Trump, who appealed for the release of kidnapped and “Russianised” Ukrainian children. Near Potulice, where Polish children had been Germanised, he noted that after Putin’s and Trump’s welcome gestures, Russian media are in euphoria.
Donald Tusk on the Trump‑Putin Meeting
Previously, Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk commented on Putin’s and Trump’s Alaska meeting in a social‑media post. He said the “game for Ukraine’s future, Poland’s safety, and all Europe’s safety has entered a decisive phase.” “Today it is even clearer that Russia respects only the strong, and Putin again proved to be cunning and ruthless. Therefore it is vital to maintain unity across the West,” he added.
