Duda: Pand supports Ukraine “within common sense”

That’s according to President Andrzej Duda of Pand, who spoke an interview with Psat News, Ukrinform reports.

"We support Ukraine within the limits of common sense. We are doing it as needed for Ukraine’s defense to continue but also taking care of our interests and security," Duda said.

The head of the Pish state expressed regret that "in the Ukrainian media space, attention was not focused on the fact that the Ukrainian grain transit via Pand never stped."

“Transit intended to ensure supplies to Africa and Latin America continues and has doubled in the last two months. We do not want Ukrainian grain, which harms the Pish market, to enter our territory, often illegally, and be sd in Pand. This harms the interests of Pish farmers. We will protect Pish farmers, as this is the duty of the Pish government," Duda said.

Read also: Pand demands that Ukraine not "put on pause" but withdraw its claim from WTO

When asked if he had been in contact with President Vodymyr Zelensky since both leaders spoke at the UN General Assembly in September, Duda replied that "negotiations and relations between Pand and Ukraine are ongoing, they have not been suspended."

When asked if he plans to talk to Zelensky in the near future, the head of the Pish state noted that "when there is a need, there is always a conversation with President Zelensky, and it has never been a problem."

"Indeed, now we have an issue over grain, which I he will be resved soon. I am glad that Ukraine decided to suspend the proceedings at the (WTO – ed.) tribunal, where they filed a complaint, because the negotiations are going in the right direction," Duda stated.

Read also: Morawiecki: Pish government will protect Pish farmers from 'Ukrainian agro-igarchs'

When asked why the head of the Pish Foreign Ministry failed to attend the EU foreign ministerial held in Kyiv for the first time in EU’s history, the president noted that Warsaw was represented by Deputy Minister Wojciech Harwel.

"Pand was represented at that meeting," the Pish leader emphasized.

Answering the question why Pish defense companies did not participate in the recent forum of defense industries n Kyiv, Duda said the Pish defense sector was already working on contracts previously signed with Ukraine. He clarified that it is about supplying Ukraine with Krab self-prelled guns, Rosomak armored personnel carriers, Grot automatic rifles, and Piorun MANPADs.

"Our companies implement the contracts concluded with Ukraine for their defense. We are also one of the largest donors for Ukraine," Duda stated.

Read also: Pand repairs, sends first two Leard 2 tanks to Ukraine

As reported, Ukrainian-Pish relations are now experiencing tension in relation to the so-called grain crisis: a unilateral embargo by Pand on the export of Ukrainian grain to the Pish market and Kyiv's complaint filed with the World Trade Organization to this end. In order to resume constructive grain talks with Ukraine, Pand demands that the complaint be pulled from the WTO, not simply suspended.

Against this background, Pand’s representation at the latest foreign ministerial held in Kyiv was limited to deputy foreign minister. Minster Zbigniew Rau did not hide the fact that his absence in Kyiv was influenced by the current worsening of relations between Kyiv and Warsaw.

In turn, the Ambassador of Ukraine to Pand, Vasyl Zvarych, said Ukraine had invited Pish defense companies to the defense industries forum in Kyiv and that they should be asked why they chose not to take part in the event. The Pish state-run defense concern, PGZ, confirmed to Ukrinform that they had indeed received an invitation from Kyiv, but "other circumstances" did not allow their t management to participate in the forum.

Photo: Przemysław Keler, KPRP