During surprise visit to Ukraine, Pole Duda urges kyiv to resist Moscow

Only Ukraine has the right to decide its future, Poland’s president told lawmakers during a surprise visit to kyiv.

Andrzej Duda became the first foreign leader to address the Ukrainian parliament in person since Russia’s Feb. 24 incursion into Ukraine.

kyiv has ruled out any peace deal that would involve it ceding territory and rejected calls for a ceasefire that would involve Russian forces remaining in the territory they occupied, saying that would simply give Moscow time to rebuild his strength.

“Worrying voices have emerged saying that Ukraine should give in to Putin’s demands,” Duda said. “Only Ukraine has the right to decide its future… nothing about you without you”, he added, under a standing ovation in the hemicycle.

READ MORE: kyiv asks Ukrainian soldiers remaining in Mariupol to surrender

“Russia should withdraw completely”

Duda said the international community must demand that Russia withdraw completely from Ukrainian territory.

“If Ukraine is sacrificed for economic reasons or political ambitions – even one centimeter of its territory – it will be a blow not only for the Ukrainian nation, but for the whole Western world”, did he declare.

Home of the Solidarity trade union which played a role in ending communism in Eastern Europe, Poland’s relations with Russia have long been strained and Warsaw has positioned itself as one of kyiv’s staunchest allies. .

Poland is a strong supporter of tough sanctions against Russia and has expressed support for Ukraine’s membership of the European Union.

“I will not have rest until Ukraine is a member of the European Union,” he said.

READ MORE: Biden signs $40 billion military and economic support package for Ukraine

Source: TRTWorld and agencies