President Duda's aide: call between Polish and Iranian presidents at Zelenskiy's request

Last week, president Andrzej Duda spoke over the phone with the President of Iran Ebrahim Raisi. Duda's chancellery said in a statement that "the leaders discussed bilateral affairs and spoke about current international situation".

The conversation has faced a wave of criticism in the light of recent news regarding Iran's support of Russian aggression against Ukraine and sales of military drones that were to be used to attack Ukrainian cities.

Presidential aide and chief of International Policy Bureau Jakub Kumoch said in TVN24's "Rozmowa Piaseckiego" on Tuesday "the conversation pertained to one very concrete situation, for which president Zelenskiy had asked". "This is a concrete proposal, not a mere simple request saying 'stop selling arms to Russia'. Talks are ongoing and action is being taken in that regard," he said, explaining that he could not reveal any details as the matter was strictly confidential.

Kumoch confirmed the discussion between the presidents pertained to "the news regarding Iran selling arms to Russia", which "Iran obviously denies".

"Obviously, neither president Duda nor any country is not not able to turn the tides of history with a single phone call. But attempts at making such turns should be made," he added.

"The president was asked by president Zelenskiy for something president Zelenskiy couldn't do himself. Poland said at the very start it would be supporting Ukraine, also when speaking with non-European countries" - said the chief of International Policy Bureau.

Kumoch explained that "obviously, Polish president didn't make the call to separate himself in any way from the Western standpoint". "Poland is a loyal member of the European Union, takes part in sanctions, doesn't block anything," he said.

He also said that - in retrospect - that the conversation should have taken place, and that Poland would be attempting to contact leaders of other non-European countries, including those accused of selling weapons to Russia, in order to try to convince them to stop. "Ukraine can count on Poland. We determined to stop the drones from falling down" - he stressed.

Last week,on Monday morning, Ukrainian authorities informed that Kiev was attacked by Russian forces with Iranian-supplied kamikaze drones. Iranian authorities denied the accusutions regarding them supplying military equipment to Russia.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said there is "extensive proof of their use by Russia against both military and civilian targets there" and that Tehran appears to be considering selling more such weapons to Moscow.

"You all have seen as well the reports this morning of what appears to be an Iranian drone strike in downtown Kyiv. Yet Iran continues to lie about this," Jean-Pierre told reporters. "They have not been truthful about this."

U.S. Department of State threatened Iran with sanctions.

Jakub Kumoch was also asked about a series of phone conversations between Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and defence ministers of the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Turkey. Shoigu is said to have accused Ukraine of planning an attack with the use of a "dirty bomb", but offered the public opinion no evidence to support his claim.

"If Russia accuses anyone of anything, it usually announces its own plans, or wants to intimidate at least. I think that Russia is trying to turn this war in Ukraine - which it is losing at the battlefield - into a Cuban crisis of sorts (of 1962 - edit.)" - he said.

"It seems that Putin thinks it'll be faster for him to come to terms with the West, rather than with president Zelenskiy, with whom he doesn't wish to speak," he added.

Kumoch argued that none of Shoigu's interlocutors believed in what he had told them. "It was received very clearly - yes, it's a threat, we are ready for further escalation, we are even ready to use weapons of mass destruction, so now you must speak with us. Luckily, the West is acting wisely in that regard."

Asked if this could be a small step towards Russia using nuclear weapons, or rather a way to intimidate, he argued that "Russia certainly wants all of us to think it would use weapons of mass destruction and that we should find a compromise".

"The problem is that the West is not part of this war, it's not physically present at the frontlines, and thus it would have to convince the Ukrainians to something like that. In this respect they are fearless, in other words, they have no intention to back down," the presidential aide said.

"I haven't noticed any serious politicians in the West saying we should come to terms with Russia as soon as possible, because Russia is threatening with weapons of mass destruction. I think it would be counterproductive," he added.

In his opinion, "there's no such force in the West" that would tell the Ukrainians; "lay down your arms"

Kumoch also commented on Hungary's conduct in the context of the war in Ukraine. In his view, "they have a singular approach to this war". "It's changing a bit when it comes to rhetorics, for instance, Hungarian president joined president Duda in his letter condemning war crimes," he said.

"We are not satisfied with Hungary's policy" - he stressed, however.

Asked which country was closer to Poland - Hungary or Germany - the presidential minister said that Poland had "major reservations to both countries in terms of their approach towards Ukraine". He argued that Hungary's role, significance, and potential in this war was "lower beyond comparison", and that more should be expected from a country "which aspires to be a leader of European integration".

The presidential aide also commented on Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki's words, who had said in early September that he wanted to find a formula that would reestablish cooperation within the V4 format as well as with Hungary in the fields in which Warsaw and Budapest share common values and interests.

"I believe in achieving this kind of middle ground. Also the Poles today are probably more ready for it, than they were in March or April," Kumoch said.

"I'm always ready to rebuild cooperation, but this rebuilding is not unconditional. Hungary must change its policy, if it wants to be a truly reliable partner for Poland" - Jakub Kumoch stressed.

He added that "for Poland, 95% of its foreign policy is security". "If a country pursues policy which is not in line with out security policy, then obviously this has its consequences."

Asked how PM Morawiecki's comments fitted in this context, Kumoch replied that "he probably expressed certain hopes that the situation will change soon". "We cooperate with this kind of Hungary, we might even say we're friends, however, we are a little disappointed, if we are using friendship terms," the presidential minister added.