Monika Scislowska | AP

Poland’s President Andrzej Duda, his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyi, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg addressed the Polish parliament during a special ceremonial session organised to mark the 23rd anniversary of Poland’s accession to the North Atlantic Alliance.

The special parliament session dedicated to mark the 23rd anniversary of Poland’s accession to the NATO was attended by President Andrzej Duda, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Poland Andrii Deshchytsia, Poland’s former presidents and prime ministers among many other figures.

In his address, president Duda said: “Poland sends a message to the free world: we must not let Russia conquer the free, democratic Ukraine. We must step up our efforts and support for the Ukrainian nation. Let’s stop this evil. This is a call to the whole free world”.

“Ukraine is defending democracy, freedom of the fair world,” he added.

The president also thanked all those who had facilitated Poland’s accession to the NATO, adding that a strong support from the United States had been essential.

“Sovereign and independent Poland has always been a home of freedom and democracy. We shall defend this home with all our might,” he said.

Andrzej Duda also stressed that besides being part of NATO, Poland sees its membership in the European Union with equal importance. “Those are the pillars of our security. This is Poland’s national interest”.

Finally, the president Duda said that “today, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is the face of the free world.

“Long live the NATO, long live free Ukraine, long live Poland. God bless our homeland,” he added.

Zelenskiy: historic mission for Poland and Ukraine

“Today, we are fighting to make sure that the Baltic countries, Poland will not face these evil times. We are fighting together, we have strength. Remember there we make 90 million people together. When together, we can do anything,” Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said from Kiev.

“It is a historic mission for Poland, a historic mission for Ukraine to be leaders who will drag Europe out of this abyss, save from the threat, stop transformation of Europe into victims,” added.

“The way you accepted our friends, our people, who were welcome in your homeland, where they sought refuge against this evil that happened to our country, there is over 1.5 million of Ukrainian citizens here and they don’t feel as foreigners here, they were accepted in families with the spirit of brotherhood and kindness,” Zelenskiy underscored.

“This is a battle for our freedom, but also for your freedom, this is a joint history of great nations. Dear Lord please let us win,” he stressed. “Long live free Poland, long live free Ukraine!” – the president said.

The parliament rose to their feet in applause after the President finished his speech.

Stoltenberg: Moscow’s violence and aggression will fail

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also spoke to the lawmakers via video link on the 23rd anniversary of Poland joining the organisation.

“This sends a clear message, that NATO allies stand together, we will protect Poland and defend every inch of allied territory. One for all and all for one, whatever Moscow seeks to achieve through violence and aggression it will fail,” NATO chief said.

“President Putin wants less NATO on Russia’s borders, he is getting more NATO, he wants to divide Europe and North America, but we stand more united than ever,” he added.

“It is enshrined in our founding treaty, and neither Russia nor anybody else has a veto on whether any country becomes a NATO member,” Jens Stoltenberg told Polish parliament.

Source: TVN24