Poland's top diplomat Radosław Sikorski visits Lviv

The head of Polish diplomacy began his visit with a commemoration of the victims of a Russian attack in Lapaivka. Deputy Prime Minister Sikorski, accompanied by Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister Olexandr Mischenko, laid flowers at the ruins of the residential building destroyed in what was the largest Russian attack on Lviv since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine started.

"Russian airstrikes are another escalation meant to intimidate people ahead of winter. Attacks on civilian targets are war crimes. Putin faces criminal charges due to child abductions and yet he continues his attacks. We should respond with more sanctions and more help for Ukraine," said Deputy Prime Minister Sikorski.

Poland's chief diplomat also emphasised that the European Union works by unanimity, which is indispensable to make decisions on support for Ukraine and the disbursement of funds from the European Peace Facility. The deputy prime minister reiterated that 18 packages of sanctions against Russia had been adopted so far and the 19th package was being discussed.

Deputy Prime Minister Sikorski was awarded an honorary doctorate degree during a ceremony at the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv. The accolade was presented by the University's head in recognition of Radosław Sikorski's contribution to strengthening Polish-Ukrainian relations, organisation of support for Ukraine in its defence against the Russian aggressor, and special merits for the development of theory and know-how of modern diplomacy.

"Paradoxically, Moscow's aggression was a wake-up call for many. Putin was dreaming of weakening Europe and pushing NATO further from Russia's borders. Instead, he got two new member states and a great increase in the Alliance's defence spending," said the minister after receiving the distinction.

Deputy Prime Minister Sikorski also took part in a ministerial panel of the inaugural Lviv Diplomatic Forum to discuss current global challenges and the role that modern diplomacy plays in international politics.

"We are faced with a simple alternative: we can either come to terms with the return of nationalistic demons which, many times in the past, have wreaked havoc across Europe, particularly in our region, or choose the path of peaceful coexistence," said the head of the Polish MFA.

When in Lviv, Deputy Prime Minister Sikorski held a series of talks with representatives of the Ukrainian government, local authorities, and the academia. The meetings focused on economic cooperation and further strengthening security in our region.

The Polish delegation, together with Mayor of Lviv Andriy Sadovyi, also visited the largest rehabilitation centre in Ukraine. The Unbroken centre provides treatment to injured civilians and soldiers, including the defenders of Ukraine who endured years of torture in Russian captivity.

The Lviv visit confirmed that the Polish-Ukrainian partnership is durable and both nations remain jointly committed to further strengthening security, solidarity, and resilience across Europe.