Polish FM offers Russia ‘informal platform’ to de-escalate tensions

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Poland Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau met his opposite number in Moscow, Sergei Lavrov, to offer a “new initiative for dialogue” regarding the build up of Russian troops on Ukraine’s eastern border. Rau expressed hope that he can offer an “informal platform” to de-escalate the “deep security crisis” that Europe is currently facing, notesfrompoland.com reported.

Rau, who dropped into Ukraine last week, is the first Polish foreign minister to visit Moscow in nearly a decade, as the Russo-sceptic Law and Justice (PiS) party to which he belongs has ruled Poland for seven years. The previous week Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki expressed his “solidarity” with the Ukrainian people, when he visited Kyiv. Rau’s deputy, Pawel Jablonski, said Poland “does not have high hopes” in the effectiveness of diplomacy against a “very aggressive” Russia, adding that “a parallel path of sanctions and deterrence” will also be required.

The Polish Foreign Ministry insisted that Rau’s visit was in the guise of his role as the rotating chairman of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).  

“The Polish presidency of the OSCE is taking all measures to prevent it and reduce the current tension,” Rau, told TVP Info, notesfrompoland.com wrote. “In this spirit, we proposed an initiative for a new dialogue on European security…to reduce the risk of confrontation and to strengthen stability,” Rau said, adding that “the only way out of the current crisis is diplomacy”.

Lavrov said Russia would like to “rebuild the culture of mutual respect within the OSCE”, as opposed to the “aggressive rhetoric and confrontational approach filling our common space”. Meanwhile, the US has bolstered its military presence by deploying thousands of troops and also F-16 fighter jets to Poland, notesfrompoland.com added.

Source: Notes From Poland