A dispute erupted between Marcin Przydacz and a TVN24 journalist in Dallas on March 28th regarding past meetings between Polish officials and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Exchange with TVN24 Journalist
The exchange between Przydacz and TVN24’s Marcin Wrona occurred during a press briefing in Dallas on March 28th. Wrona noted that the last Polish Foreign Minister to meet with Sergey Lavrov was Zbigniew Rau, at which point Przydacz was the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Przydacz responded, stating he believed the journalist “should have brushed up on his knowledge.”
Rau’s Meeting with Lavrov in 2022
Rau and Lavrov met on February 15, 2022, in Moscow. Przydacz emphasized that Poland held the presidency of the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) at the time, which necessitated the meeting between the two foreign ministers. He suggested the journalist was unaware of this context.
Comparison to Tusk’s Visit to Budapest
Przydacz further drew a parallel to Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s visit to Budapest two years prior, during which Tusk met with Viktor Orbán despite the ongoing Russian war against Ukraine. He stated that a similar argument had been made regarding that meeting.
Disagreement Over Attendance
Wrona countered that he remembered Rau’s meeting with Lavrov well, as he was present. He suggested Przydacz was also in attendance. Przydacz denied being present at the meeting.
Przydacz on Wrona’s Experience in Moscow
Przydacz added that Wrona apparently “has more experience being in Moscow.” Wrona clarified that he was referring to a different meeting – a conversation between Rau and Lavrov in September 2021 in New York during the UN General Assembly, while Poland was preparing to take over the OSCE presidency.
Nawrocki’s CPAC Speech and Meeting with Orbán
The briefing followed President Karol Nawrocki’s speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Dallas. Przydacz highlighted that Nawrocki directly identified Russia as a threat to Euro-Atlantic security and civilization, and affirmed the honor of soldiers fighting alongside Americans in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Przydacz also addressed Nawrocki’s March 23rd meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in Budapest, responding to questions about whether the visit undermined Nawrocki’s statements regarding Russia.
Nawrocki’s Stance on Russia and Ukraine
Przydacz stated that the conversation between Nawrocki and Orbán covered Russia and Ukraine, and that Nawrocki did not alter his views on either country. He reiterated Nawrocki’s strong disagreement with those who believe they understand Russia better.