Zelenskiy: I thank Poland for unprecedented support for Ukraine

At a press conference organised on Friday for Polish media, Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that he wanted "to thank Poland and the Polish nation for an unprecedented support for Ukraine and the Ukrainians".

Poland is doing all it can to ensure that those of us who have left (Ukraine) feel not like refugees, but like people forced to leave their land by this ongoing tragedy," he added.

He also said that he would not agree that his people felt like at home in Poland, as this would only be possible in Ukraine. He added, however, that "the Poles are doing their best to make Ukrainians feel like that in Poland".

"I want to especially thank Andrzej Duda and his wife for their involvement in supporting Ukraine," Zelenskiy said.

"In the first days (of war), I used to speak to president Duda everyday, more than once a day," he added.

"The historical issues, which created difficulties in our relations, pale in comparison to the friendship we have today, the unity sparked by hatred of the common enemy," he said.

The Ukrainian president was asked about propaganda disseminated by Russian media, including information about a possibility of western Ukraine being taken over by Poland.

Zelenskiy said that he had not time to think about what Russian politicians were saying, calling Russian news "information missiles launched to create panic".

"It (Russian propaganda) is meant to destabilise the European Union and divide the Eastern European countries. So that this force - so visible in military and humanitarian aid, as well as in accepting refugees - is not that present in diplomatic support and sanctions," he added.

Ukraine's president also said that "Poland knows very well that if someone attacks it, Poland and Ukraine will stand together". "We are strong in Europe which stands together."

Zelenskiy spoke about a deep need of solidarity in the face of Russian aggression. In his view, Europe needs unity, which would make small republics like the Baltic states feel safe in the face of danger.

He also said that judging by current Hungarian policy on Ukraine and Russia, the Hungarians seemed not to understand this danger, but maybe "sooner or later they will have to defend themselves".