Ukraine, Poland and UK discuss three-way security pact in face of “Russian aggression”

Ukraine, Poland and the United Kingdom are seeking a new trilateral security agreement amid growing fears of a Russian attack in eastern Europe. Both the Polish and British prime ministers visited Kyiv yesterday for talks.

“We are creating a new format of political cooperation in Europe between Ukraine, Great Britain and Poland,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of meetings with Mateusz Morawiecki and Boris Johnson.

Ukraine’s foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, wrote on Facebook that the “new small alliance” would strengthen cooperation in a similar manner to other “successful” formats, such as Ukraine’s so-called Lublin Triangle with Poland and Lithuania and its Associated Trio with Georgia and Moldova.

Such arrangements are “not tied to local geography”, but to “common principles” and readiness for “concrete action”, said Kuleba, quoted by Euractiv.

“In the context of ongoing Russian aggression, we should sign a trilateral document on cooperation to strengthen regional security,” added Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal following a meeting with his Polish counterpart.

Morawiecki described his visit as a way of “expressing my solidarity with the Ukrainian people, who are currently threatened by Russia”. He warned that  “Europe will not be safe without a sovereign Ukraine and there will be no sovereign Ukraine without the EU and NATO”.

The premier also reaffirmed Poland’s commitment to supply Ukraine with arms, and specified that these would include shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles (MANPADS), as well as drones and ammunition.

“Living close to a neighbour like Russia, we have the feeling of living at the foot of a volcano,” said Morawiecki. Last year, Poland said it would double the size of its army and bolster defence spending in the face of “Russia’s imperial ambitions”.

The Polish premier added on Tuesday that his country was also ready to support Ukraine economically, including on the issue of gas, as well as by providing humanitarian aid.

According to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service of Ukraine, the country was set to receive 120 tonnes in humanitarian assistance from Poland on Tuesday, including medical supplies, camp beds, blankets and bed linen. COVID-19 equipment was also provided to Kyiv.

“We highly appreciate the significant support of our friend Poland,” said Shmyhal, who stressed Poland’s long-standing support for Ukraine’s hopes of NATO and the EU membership.

Kyiv also yesterday welcomed British premier Boris Johnson. Next week, the presidents of Poland and France, as well as the German chancellor, are also reportedly scheduled to hold talks in their Weimar Triangle format. Additional talks of the Lublin Triangle have also been scheduled for 14 March.

Poland’s foreign minister, Zbigniew Rau, is also due to arrive in Washington today for a four-day visit that will include meetings with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.

Main image credit: Andrzej Haber/KPRM (under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Maria Wilczek

Maria Wilczek is deputy editor of Notes from Poland. She is a regular writer for The Times, The Economist and Al Jazeera English, and has also featured in Foreign Policy, Politico Europe, The Spectator and Gazeta Wyborcza.