TVN24

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken came to Poland on Saturday. He talked with Polish politicians, and also visited the reception center in Młyny in the Podkarpacie region, where he met refugees from Ukraine fleeing the Russian invasion. In an interview with TVN24, the head of American diplomacy said that he was “greatly impressed by the openness and generosity of” Poles, and that “the strength of our partnership has never been greater”. – We are united. This unity in supporting Ukraine, in facing Russian aggression, is very important, he stressed.

– I am very impressed with the openness and generosity of the Polish nation. I was at the reception center for Ukrainians and other refugees coming from Ukraine. When I saw this hospitality, this generosity and openness of our Polish friends, I felt a great emotion – said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in an interview with Piotr Kraśka on TVN24.

As he stated, “the strength of our partnership has never been greater.” He recalled that on Saturday he had meetings with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and the head of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Zbigniew Rau. – We are united. This unity in supporting Ukraine, in facing Russian aggression, is very important, he stressed.

On Saturday, Blinken also held talks with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, on the Polish-Ukrainian border. – Dmytro Kuleba is our great friend and, like President Volodymyr Zelensky, has become the face of the Ukrainian people in the confrontation with this aggression. We talk on the phone regularly. It was important that we met symbolically, crossed this border and that we stood together in Ukraine, because we stood and stand together for Ukraine, said the US Secretary of State.

Blinken: Article 5. NATO is sacred

When asked if the United States would come to help Poland if it fell victim to Russian aggression, the chief of American diplomacy replied in the affirmative. President [USA, Joe – Ed.] Biden told this to the entire nation in his State of the State address. This is a speech by the president to every American. He has said many times that we will defend every inch of NATO territory. This commitment, the so-called Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, is sacred to President Biden and the United States, Blinken assured.

The US secretary of state pointed out that already before the Russian aggression on Ukraine, about 5,000 American soldiers were stationed in Poland as part of the NATO mission. “Now we have twice as much,” he added.

In the opinion of Antony Blinken, the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, has in recent years brought about everything he wanted to prevent. – Ukrainians turned their backs to Russia, while before 2014 they had a largely favorable attitude towards it. Now 90 percent of Ukrainian citizens hate Russia, and they definitely hate Vladimir Putin, he pointed out. He added that “at exactly the same time, NATO drew closer, it strengthened cooperation more than ever in the past.”

– The alliance has become even stronger and has come closer to the Russian borders, precisely as a result of Putin’s aggression – he stressed.

Blinken on sanctions: They have more of an impact than many thought

According to Blinken, the sanctions against Russia are “very strong” and have an “enormous impact”. – It’s bigger than most people imagined a month ago. Precisely because so many countries participate in it, we are doing it together – said the head of American diplomacy.

As he added, it is unfortunate that the price for Putin’s actions is borne by ordinary Russians. – They already feel it in their bank accounts, in the value of their currency, they see that business is fleeing their country, they cannot travel. At the moment, even the oligarchs are losing their yachts, cars and houses – Blinken mentioned.

“It is having a huge impact right now and will have an even greater impact over time,” he added.

Blinken: I am convinced that Ukraine will win

The US secretary of state said that the war in Ukraine changed the world, but – he added – it is very possible that in the end it will change the world for the better.

– Over the last few decades, democracies in the world, including our democracy, have regressed in various ways. Now we see the most powerful response to the autocracy, to Russia under Putin, which says it will do what it pleases. We, as democracies, respond, and stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine. We are against this aggression – pointed out the US Secretary of State.

He admitted that it was “too early for us to say what the effects will be.” – But it may turn out that they will be positive when the democratic world says: no, there is a border, enough, we unite, we are together – said Blinken in an interview with TVN24. As he emphasized, a positive change can only occur if the world maintains its course and guarantees that Ukraine will win.

“I am sure it will,” he added.

Anthony Blinken in Europe. On Saturday he visited Poland

The US chief of diplomacy is visiting Europe. On Friday in Brussels, he spoke with the head of EU diplomacy Josep Borrell, and also met with the heads of EU, G7 and NATO diplomacy.

On Saturday, Antony Blinken came to Poland. The US Secretary of State in Rzeszów met with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Zbigniew Rau. Blinken also visited the reception center in Młyny, where refugees from the border crossing in Korczowa end up. The American politician talked to both refugees from Ukraine and volunteers who come there from all over Poland and Europe.

In the following days, the US secretary of state is to visit Moldova and the Baltic states.

Source: TVN24