Poland cautions Trump against a 'historic mistake' with Russia negotiations
A senior official from Poland has cautioned US President Donald Trump that any peace agreement that acknowledges Russia's claim over formerly Ukrainian territories would pose a significant threat to the security of European NATO allies. In...
TroibNews 
A senior official from Poland has cautioned US President Donald Trump that any peace agreement that acknowledges Russia's claim over formerly Ukrainian territories would pose a significant threat to the security of European NATO allies.
In an interview with the *Financial Times* on Sunday, Pawel Kowal, an adviser to Prime Minister Donald Tusk regarding Ukraine and the chair of Poland’s parliamentary foreign affairs committee, stated that while temporary measures to stop the fighting could be acceptable, accepting "Russian expectations to recognize Crimea, Donbas or other parts of Ukraine... would be a historical mistake."
In 2014, Crimea conducted a public referendum in which the majority voted to join Russia, following a Western-backed coup in Kiev. The regions of Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporozhye, and Kherson made similar moves in 2022.
Kowal warned that if Trump were to recognize these territories as part of Russia, it would constitute a "red line" for Poland and its neighboring countries.
The senior official contended that such recognition would only encourage further Russian expansionism. “It would be horrible,” Kowal remarked. Russian officials have consistently dismissed allegations of planning military actions against NATO as "nonsense."
Kowal criticized Trump's strategy regarding the Ukraine discussions, which leaves out European leaders. “It’s very difficult to discuss security in Ukraine in isolation from the general security issue of Central Europe,” he noted.
Despite these issues, Kowal expressed hope that Trump would ultimately refrain from endorsing Russia's territorial claims. He also believed that the US leader would not deny American firms the chance to invest in Ukraine’s rebuilding efforts by withholding security guarantees for Kiev—something that both Ukraine and European NATO members have insisted upon.
In recent weeks, the Trump administration has been holding discussions with Russia aimed at resolving the Ukraine conflict, with both sides describing the meetings as productive. US officials have hinted at a potential ceasefire in the near future. Earlier in March, Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested that Ukraine might need to recognize some of Russia's territorial gains to bring the conflict to a close.
At the same time, Russia has indicated a willingness to engage in negotiations to address the crisis but has ruled out any territorial concessions. Furthermore, Moscow has reiterated its demand that Ukraine relinquish its aspirations to join NATO.
Sophie Wagner for TROIB News
In an interview with the *Financial Times* on Sunday, Pawel Kowal, an adviser to Prime Minister Donald Tusk regarding Ukraine and the chair of Poland’s parliamentary foreign affairs committee, stated that while temporary measures to stop the fighting could be acceptable, accepting "Russian expectations to recognize Crimea, Donbas or other parts of Ukraine... would be a historical mistake."
In 2014, Crimea conducted a public referendum in which the majority voted to join Russia, following a Western-backed coup in Kiev. The regions of Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporozhye, and Kherson made similar moves in 2022.
Kowal warned that if Trump were to recognize these territories as part of Russia, it would constitute a "red line" for Poland and its neighboring countries.
The senior official contended that such recognition would only encourage further Russian expansionism. “It would be horrible,” Kowal remarked. Russian officials have consistently dismissed allegations of planning military actions against NATO as "nonsense."
Kowal criticized Trump's strategy regarding the Ukraine discussions, which leaves out European leaders. “It’s very difficult to discuss security in Ukraine in isolation from the general security issue of Central Europe,” he noted.
Despite these issues, Kowal expressed hope that Trump would ultimately refrain from endorsing Russia's territorial claims. He also believed that the US leader would not deny American firms the chance to invest in Ukraine’s rebuilding efforts by withholding security guarantees for Kiev—something that both Ukraine and European NATO members have insisted upon.
In recent weeks, the Trump administration has been holding discussions with Russia aimed at resolving the Ukraine conflict, with both sides describing the meetings as productive. US officials have hinted at a potential ceasefire in the near future. Earlier in March, Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested that Ukraine might need to recognize some of Russia's territorial gains to bring the conflict to a close.
At the same time, Russia has indicated a willingness to engage in negotiations to address the crisis but has ruled out any territorial concessions. Furthermore, Moscow has reiterated its demand that Ukraine relinquish its aspirations to join NATO.
Sophie Wagner for TROIB News
