Warsaw mayor Rafał Trzaskowski on his way to New York and Washington

The Mayor of Warsaw Rafał Trzaskowski informed about his United States visit already last week. On Monday the mayor announced on social media he would spend the next few days across the Atlantic to discuss the humanitarian crisis caused by Russian invasion into Ukraine.

"I will try to convince our American allies to help us to deal with the ongoing crisis as soon as possible, and hopefully in a comprehensive way; most importantly, by providing direct support to refugees, non-governmental organisations and local governments, as we are on the front line of the refugee crisis," Trzaskowski said.

Warsaw mayor will visit Washington D.C. and New York, where he is to meet with members of the U.S. government and Congress, United States Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, and US Agency for International Development Chief Samantha Power.

Rafał Trzaskowski also plans to meet with leaders of think tanks and NGOs such as National Endownment for Democracy, Open Society Foundations or German Marshall Fund. "I will strive for support in various fields - starting from direct financial support, which is necessary for us given the scale of the crisis, through expert and conceptual (support)," he explained, adding that some 300,000 people from Ukraine have come to Warsaw since Feb.24.

The mayor added that he also wanted to discuss issues important for Warsaw. He is to discuss the future and sustainable development of Polish capital city's transport with secretary Buttigieg. "This issue has been high on the list of my priorities for some time now. It has also been an important element of EU policy in the context of climate crisis. In the time of war and a consequential revolution on the raw materials market, concrete solutions are urgently needed," he said.

On the agenda is also a meeting with Former Mayor of New York City Mike Bloomberg. The two are to discuss projects which Warsaw has been carrying out together with Bloomberg Philanthropies, as well as potential support in the context of the migrant crisis.

Another topic on the list is next year's 80th anniversary of Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. Mayor Trzaskowski will discuss this issue with World Jewish Congress Presdient Ronald S. Lauder.

"I will also try to convey to the American public opinion the Polish, as well as Warsaw's, standpoint - regarding the ongoing war and problems related to it, as well as other issues. That's why during my visit I will give interviews to leading American broadcasters - CNN, MSNBC, NBC among others," the mayor announced.

Trzaskowski will also give lectures at Yale and Georgetown universities.

"Not only it's a huge honour for me, but first and foremost a great and very unique opportunity to share my views with the American public opinion on both global politics, as as well the future of cities from the perspective of Poland and Warsaw. Today it's important not to lose sight of the question of rule law violation in Poland. Especially nowadays, when a ruthless war is being waged right behind our borders, Poland needs to be the strongest democracy in the region, and not a country in which PiS damages independent institutions, tries to muzzle free media and pushes minorities to the fringe. We must not let our U.S. partners - who rightly akcnowledge Polish society's attitude towards its neighbours - to forget about this," Trzaskowski stressed.