Polish president Andrzej Duda condemned Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine on Thursday (February 24), asking for Moscow to cease its operations in Ukraine. "I’m asking Russian citizens not to support their authorities in what they do," he underscored.
"I’m asking (Russia) to stop the war and let Ukraine be. As a member of the international community, I will do everything so that what is happening in Ukraine can be stopped as soon as possible, so Ukraine keeps existing and developing within its borders that have been recognised for a few decades," president Andrzej Duda said after a meeting of Poland's National Security Council.
"We’re standing by Ukraine as neighbours and as a NATO and EU member state. We hope that Russia ceases its aggression. We hope that the Russian authorities finally realise that it’s counterproductive for them as well as for the country and its citizens. I’m asking Russian citizens not to support their authorities in what they do," Poland's president said.
Poland has raised the level of readiness of some military units due to Russia's attack on Ukraine, its ministry of defence said on Thursday.
"Today, in connection with the Russian aggression, minister Mariusz Błaszczak decided to introduce a further level of readiness in particular units of operational and territorial defense forces," the ministry said in a statement.
"The decision to introduce the next degree of readiness is standard practice in such situations," the interior ministry added.
Polish hospitals are preparing beds for a possible admissions of wounded people from Ukraine, the health ministry said on Thursday.
"Poland is preparing to accept migrants from Ukraine, including Ukrainian citizens affected by the armed conflict," the ministry said in an email to Reuters.
German media have cited estimates that between 200,000 and a million people may flee to the European Union from Ukraine in the event of a war.
"We will offer massive support to the affected states – especially our neighbour Poland – in the event of large refugee movements," Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said in a statement, adding she had been in touch with the Polish government and the European Commission.
Berlin Mayor Franziska Giffey told news outlet rbb 24 that the German capital was preparing for the arrival of refugees.
"For next week, we have set ourselves the goal of discussing concrete implications, what preparations we can make, especially in the event of people fleeing this situation," Giffey said.
Interior Minister Faeser also said that German security authorities had stepped up protective measures against possible cyber attacks.
The Polish foreign ministry said on Thursday all Polish citizens should leave Ukraine immediately.
"Due to the military operations in Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises against any travel to Ukraine. Polish citizens staying in Ukraine should leave its territory immediately," it said in a statement.
A Polish government spokesman said earlier that Polish diplomatic missions in Ukraine would remain open "as long as possible".
Poland expects a decision on reinforcing NATO's eastern flank after Russian forces invaded Ukraine, a Polish government spokesman said on Thursday.
The country is now hosting more than 4,000 enduring rotational U.S. military personnel, the fourth-largest concentration of U.S. forces in Europe, the U.S. Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin said during a recent visit to Warsaw.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, Reuters
Źródło zdjęcia głównego: TVN24