Petro Poroshenko: Ukraine is grateful to Poland and Lithuania for an unwavering support in the international arena in the issues of protection of our state’s territorial integrity and independence

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko thanked President of Poland Andrzej Duda and Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė for a solid and unwavering support of Ukraine on the international scene in matters of protecting the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of our state. It was stated by Petro Poroshenko to the media representatives following the meeting with the Presidents of Poland and Lithuania in Lublin.

“I want to thank for a firm and consistent stance of Lithuania, Poland in support of our state’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence. This was reflected in the active and solid position after the Russian Federation's aggression against the Naval Forces of Ukraine in the neutral waters of the Black Sea, when an attack on our warships took place, when Ukrainian servicemen were injured," the Head of State said.

He emphasized that the Russian attack had not been provoked by Ukrainian troops. "When fire was opened at Ukrainian ships in international waters without warning. When an attempt was made to carry out the occupation of the Kerch Strait, the Sea of Azov," the Resident said.

"We have received a clear, rigorous and determined response from all our partners. But Lithuania and Poland reacted the first. And I would like to thank the Presidents of these countries, the people of these countries, the governments of these countries for this clear and consistent position," Petro Poroshenko noted.

The Head of State also expressed gratitude to the Polish and Lithuanian partners for the positions voiced during his speech from the United Nations rostrum with a report on the situation in the occupied territories of Ukraine. "We have heard a powerful voice of Poland and Lithuania together with our other allies, a strong call to the world community from the highest rostrum of the world to immediately release Ukrainian sailors illegally detained by the Russian Federation, which does not have any jurisdiction," he said.

The President recalled that, according to the Geneva Convention, Ukrainian seamen were prisoners of war. He urged to cease violations of international law, release Ukrainian sailors, Ukrainian ships and ensure freedom of navigation in the Kerch Strait.

According to him, the insistence to cease violations of human rights in the occupied Crimea and Donbas was very strong. "The call for the immediate withdrawal of troops, heavy artillery. To date, only in the occupied Donbas, the contingent of tanks, artillery systems is larger than in many European countries," the President added.

"We are grateful for the help of Poland in the UN Security Council, since we are firmly convinced that a peacekeeping mission under the mandate of the UN Security Council, a full-fledged mission under the UN Security Council standards can ensure the creation of a security component in order to begin the implementation of the Minsk agreements and force Russia to fulfill its obligations," Petro Poroshenko said.

The Head of State also added: "I was glad to receive clear assurances from our Polish and Lithuanian friends on supporting the European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations of the Ukrainian people. Because today Ukraine is protecting not only its sovereignty, Ukraine is protecting its freedom, Ukraine is protecting democracy on the eastern flank of NATO. And our wings grow when we see such events as today, when our soldiers from Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine are ready to defend the sovereignty of Europe together".

 

Presidents of Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania visited the joint Lithuanian–Polish–Ukrainian military unit LITPOLUKRBRIG

In the course of the working visit to the Republic of Poland, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko together with Polish President Andrzej Duda and Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė took part in the ceremony of the official meeting of the Heads of State with the personnel of the joint Ukrainian-Polish-Lithuanian military unit LITPOLUKRBRIG named after Grand Hetman Konstanty Ostrogski. The brigade is deployed in the Polish city of Lublin.

The Heads of State heard the report of the commander of the brigade, the Ukrainian military - Colonel Dmytro Bratishko, who has been leading the international unit since 2018. During the ceremony, the national anthems of Ukraine, Lithuania and Poland were performed and the state flags of the countries were raised. The servicemen of the brigade marched by the Presidents.

The Head of State together with the President of the Republic of Poland and the President of the Republic of Lithuania also got acquainted with the work of the LITPOLUKRBRIG Command Point.

 

President of Ukraine in Lublin: LITPOLUKRBRIG is the first fruit on Ukraine

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko during his stay in Lublin thanked President of Poland Andrzej Duda and President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė for the invitation to visit the headquarters of the joint Ukrainian-Polish-Lithuanian brigade named after Grand Hetman Konstanty Ostrogski (LITPOLUKRBRIG - ed.).

"Like 450 years ago, when the Union of Lublin was concluded, Lublin is a symbol of a powerful alliance of Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine. And it is very symbolic that today, the Presidents of Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine meet the parade together, hear the reports from the leadership of the Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian Brigade. You know, the heart is sinking," Petro Poroshenko said during a joint briefing with the Presidents of Lithuania and Poland.

"Great efforts were made to create this brigade. Now we see a completely combat-capable unit of true brothers in arms," Petro Poroshenko said. He also stressed that after the adoption of the amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine, "we have a clearly defined course of our policy for full membership in NATO and the European Union".

"And today our brigade is the first fruit when we implement changes and modernization of our Armed Forces in accordance with NATO standards," the President of Ukraine said. "We share the combat experience and this means strengthening of the combat capabilities of the Armed Forces with a view to repel the aggressor," he added.

The President thanked the Verkhovna Rada for supporting multinational military units, including LITPOLUKRBRIG. According to him, this brigade is the most successful.

Petro Poroshenko said that other Ukrainian partners were also interested in creating similar multinational military units. "I want to reveal a secret that our other neighbors study our positive experience very carefully and come up with proposals for the creation of similar brigades with the participation of other states. I welcome this and I think this is another confirmation of how effective and positive this experience is," Petro Poroshenko noted.

Among the steps necessary for Ukraine's accession to NATO, the President mentioned further reforms in various directions: "First, we must ensure modernization of the Ukrainian state for the country to meet the criteria necessary for joining NATO. It is about the rule of law, democracy, free and fair elections. It is about democratic traditions as well".

The President noted that NATO had a positive attitude towards the future membership of Ukraine in the Alliance. "The concrete step that we expect from the leadership of NATO and member states, and I felt and heard it during the last meeting of the North Atlantic Council, is to give Ukraine a Membership Action Plan. And the definition of a specific date when Ukraine can become the 31st member of NATO," Petro Poroshenko said.

The President informed that today, together with the Presidents of Poland and Lithuania, he had an opportunity to talk with the Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian Brigade troops and highly evaluated the level of training of the military brigade.

"I am convinced that the Ukrainian leadership of our brigade will fulfill its military tasks decently. I believe that the work of the brigade that has already reached combat readiness will be a worthy contribution to the security of our region," Petro Poroshenko said and thanked the Presidents of Poland and Lithuania for their invitation.

"We are strong when we are together," President of Poland Andrzej Duda said. He emphasized the importance of military cooperation between Poles, Ukrainians and Lithuanians in the framework of this joint international military unit.

Andrzej Duda noted that 2019 would be very active for the military brigade - multinational military joint exercises with American and Canadian military were planned with the involvement of the military from Georgia and Moldova.

The President of Poland emphasized the importance of cooperation with Ukraine as "a great neighbor of Poland, which has an ambition to become a NATO member" and drew attention to the importance of the real combat experience of Ukrainian military personnel for the training of the whole brigade. "Since 2014, Ukraine has been in a difficult situation, it is occupied by Russia. Ukrainian soldiers are really struggling. They have military experience not from theory. These are soldiers who participated in the regular war and they share practical experience with our soldiers, which is very satisfying to us. They are the heroes of their Homeland," the President of Poland noted.

"We are strong when we are together, when consent and friendship prevails between us, when we stand together in one line. This is a unity between our societies, states and nations. And it's safe to say between the Presidents," the President of Poland stressed.

In turn, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė emphasized the importance of solidarity and joint actions between the three countries to ensure security in the region. "For us, today's meeting is very important, because it is a historic place. I am very pleased that we work together in the same brigade and this is a good example for others," the President of Lithuania noted. "The brigade was established, inter alia, to help Ukraine. We mutually enrich ourselves, share experience, learn to defend our states,” Dalia Grybauskaitė said.

She also welcomed the decision of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to consolidate the strategic course for the EU and NATO in the Constitution of Ukraine and noted the historic role of the President of Ukraine in that decision. "This is also a merit of President Poroshenko. It is important for us, Europeans, to see and know that Ukraine remains on the road worth fighting for. And we support Ukraine on this path," Dalia Grybauskaitė emphasized.

  

President in Lublin thanked the Ukrainian community for support: Ukraine mobilizes the world to liberate our land

President Petro Poroshenko met in Lublin with the Ukrainian community in Poland.

The Head of State stressed that during his visits he always tried to meet with foreign Ukrainians. "This is a key, significant part of Ukraine, which I, as President, and the state really appreciate. I am grateful to the entire Ukrainian diaspora, which played a decisive role in ensuring global solidarity in defense of sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of our state, including the Polish one. I want to thank the Ukrainians of Poland for the important role that you played in this process," he said.

The President notes that these days mark the 5th anniversary of the tragedy of February 18-20, when in 2014 most of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred perished. "They died for a democratic and free Ukraine to take place. We must always remember the price we paid to build the state," Petro Poroshenko emphasized.

Petro Poroshenko added that Russia's aggression had begun five years ago as well: "These trials, which took place in Ukraine and which are now taking place, make our country stronger, more united, more Ukrainian and more European". The attendees honored memory of all the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred and Ukrainian warriors.

The President stressed that since the Revolution of Dignity, many changes and achievements had taken place in Ukraine, including the restoration of the army joined by Ukrainians in Poland, ratification of the Association Agreement with the EU and the free trade area, visa-free regime, Tomos, reform of the public procurement system and the energy market, education reform, changes in the healthcare system and so on.

At the same time, according to the President, the reforms in Ukraine are in process.

The Head of State emphasized that many Ukrainians worked in Poland. "I want them to come back home. I want to create high-paid jobs," he said.

The Head of State stressed that Ukraine had two enemies - an aggressor country and poverty. According to him, all reforms are made for the economic growth to take place and for Ukrainians to feel changes with their own wallet. "A person who works should have a decent salary," Petro Poroshenko said. According to him, it is important not to stop and continue to change Ukraine. "This is the path to our common victory, to the revival of our state. To the return of Ukrainians. To the respect of diaspora representatives who live abroad ... I feel that we have a very effective and good dialogue with the diaspora," he said.

The President said that he had returned from New York a day before, where he had participated in the debate in the UN General Assembly. "Where Russia is called an invader, an aggressor from the UN rostrum. There were 32 speakers - 31 supported Ukraine and one speaker was against. Who was that? The Russian Federation. In total isolation. Ukraine mobilizes the world for the liberation of Ukrainian land. Ukraine will win," the Head of State emphasized.

 

President honored memory of the victims of struggle and martyrdom of Polish and other nations in Poland

President Petro Poroshenko visited the Memorial to the victims of struggle and martyrdom of Polish and other nations in Poland. The Head of State laid a wreath and paid tribute to the victims.

The Majdanek State Museum, where the Memorial is located, was created in 1944 on the site of the former German Nazi concentration camp, which operated from October 1941 to July 1944.

Among the prisoners were Poles, Ukrainians, Jews, Belarusians, Russians, Czechs, a small number of French and German people. Starting from May 1943, soldiers of the Soviet Army were also taken to the camp.

The total number of prisoners of the concentration camp was about 150 thousand people. 80 thousand of them were executed: almost 60 thousand Jews. The rest of the executed were Poles, Belarusians, Ukrainians and Russians.

  

He is an example of profound spirituality and self-sacrifice - President laid a capsule for the future monument in Lublin to the Righteous of Ukraine Father Omelyan Kovch

In Lublin, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko took part in the ceremony of laying a memorial capsule for the construction of the monument to the Righteous of Ukraine, Blessed Holy Martyr Father Omelyan Kovch.

The Head of State that the City Council of Lublin had made a decision on the monument on February 22, 2018. "This is a unique gesture that shows affinity, mutual respect, high moral and Christian values that has been uniting the Ukrainian and Polish people for centuries," Petro Poroshenko emphasized.

The President thanked everyone who made efforts for this step, particularly the City Council of Lublin, in the person of its Chairman, Mr. Jarosław Pakuła.

"Dear friends, together we make a fantastic, wonderful job. Father Omelyan Kovch unites Ukrainian, Polish, Jewish and other nations. He is an example of profound spirituality and self-sacrifice. He showed a model of true love for one’s neighbor. The love that the Lord teaches us," the Head of State emphasized.

"With his humane stance, carrying pastoral service to people in need, Father Omelyan Kovch constantly challenged two criminal ideologies that left a tragic footprint in the XX century. Soviet communism and German Nazism destroyed and crushed the cultural and civilizational space of Europe," the President said.

"And now, when Europe is united, when Ukraine aspires to return to the European family of nations and pays the greatest price of all nations for the right to be in Europe, look how necessary the words of Omelyan Kovch are. The words that unite us," Petro Poroshenko said.

He informed that he had returned from the meeting with the Presidents of Poland and Lithuania. “We have just noted the unity of the Lithuanian–Polish–Ukrainian Brigade. I think that Father Omelyan would be glad to see the unity of Europe, the unity of three our nations,” Petro Poroshenko said. He added: “Let us preserve our friendship, let us preserve our unity, let us preserve our European values that unity our nations and let us remember the words of Blessed Father Omelyan Kovch that will be inscribed on the future monument here in Lublin: “One and the same Great and Almighty God leads us all”.