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EU AI Act, Article 50. 00:00:01.162 --> 00:00:06.850 Good morning to you all, welcome after the completed working meeting of the Council 00:00:06.902 --> 00:00:13.153 of the Baltic Sea States, involving 10 states and the European Union, with Ukraine. 00:00:13.215 --> 00:00:15.755 I will now ask for a summary of this meeting. 00:00:15.805 --> 00:00:20.377 Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Radosław Sikorski, the High 00:00:20.421 --> 00:00:25.266 Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and 00:00:25.325 --> 00:00:29.658 the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andrij Sybiha, Mr Prime Minister, Mr 00:00:29.681 --> 00:00:30.562 Minister, please. 00:00:30.562 --> 00:00:34.856 Dear colleagues, we have just concluded an informal meeting of the foreign ministers 00:00:34.917 --> 00:00:40.574 of the Council of the Baltic Sea States, with the participation of the High 00:00:40.647 --> 00:00:44.906 Representative and the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs. 00:00:44.972 --> 00:00:51.353 Today’s meeting confirmed the unity of the countries in our region in the face of 00:00:51.434 --> 00:00:57.783 Russia’s ongoing aggression. We agreed that the key issue remains strengthening 00:00:57.871 --> 00:01:01.051 military and financial support for Ukraine. 00:01:01.112 --> 00:01:04.864 We unanimously adopted a statement which is at your disposal. 00:01:04.911 --> 00:01:10.013 The priority is to support Ukraine in preparing for the upcoming winter period and 00:01:10.085 --> 00:01:14.168 to increase the resilience of its energy sector. 00:01:14.254 --> 00:01:20.542 Poland will allocate an additional 8 million zloty for the energy community, from 00:01:20.624 --> 00:01:25.297 which generators will be purchased for Ukraine. 00:01:25.365 --> 00:01:30.628 Strengthening deterrence capabilities is not intended to escalate tensions; 00:01:30.687 --> 00:01:37.935 Russia must understand that its continued aggression will come with rising costs and 00:01:38.011 --> 00:01:42.699 consequences. I remind you of this because Poland remains one of the most important 00:01:42.762 --> 00:01:47.809 states supporting Ukraine and one of the pillars of security on NATO’s eastern 00:01:47.864 --> 00:01:52.891 flank. We are ready to make a constructive contribution to future actions aimed at 00:01:52.950 --> 00:01:57.880 consolidating peace and security in the region and to engage in ongoing talks. 00:01:57.928 --> 00:02:03.681 The exercises of the willing coalition under the codename "Coalition 262", organised 00:02:03.780 --> 00:02:11.485 in November here in Poland, are confirmation of our role and determination. 00:02:11.531 --> 00:02:17.408 Our commitment to European security is confirmed by the participation of nearly 00:02:17.488 --> 00:02:23.782 2,000 Polish soldiers in the exercises and by leading the command of support for 00:02:23.843 --> 00:02:28.853 international forces. We welcome initiatives aimed at ending the war, but it is 00:02:28.915 --> 00:02:34.979 essential to maintain the appropriate sequence – this was strongly emphasised during 00:02:35.064 --> 00:02:42.788 today’s discussions. Namely, first a ceasefire, then talks on lasting peace, and 00:02:42.875 --> 00:02:50.337 only then possible talks on how to restore the functioning of the European security 00:02:50.415 --> 00:02:55.250 architecture and perhaps how to restore arms control regimes. 00:02:55.331 --> 00:03:00.490 At present, I would like this to be clearly stated: 00:03:00.572 --> 00:03:05.242 Kyiv has the upper hand on the frontline in Ukraine. 00:03:05.602 --> 00:03:11.571 should not negotiate its future under the pressure of shelling civilians, because 00:03:11.672 --> 00:03:19.553 here Russia is simply committing war crimes, such as in the cases of airstrikes over 00:03:19.625 --> 00:03:27.660 Dnipro and in Komiszu Vach. The solution cannot be imposed on Ukraine without its 00:03:27.732 --> 00:03:33.222 consent and presence at the table. just as Europe’s security cannot be the subject 00:03:33.269 --> 00:03:39.905 of talks conducted without our involvement, the countries of the Eastern Flank are 00:03:39.955 --> 00:03:45.600 the most affected by the potential agreement, but they can also bring a particularly 00:03:45.672 --> 00:03:50.261 important perspective on perceptions of the threats posed by Russia. 00:03:50.329 --> 00:03:56.300 We advocate for further strengthening of the sanctions regime, in particular against 00:03:56.356 --> 00:04:00.638 the Russian scrap fleet and entities supporting its operations. 00:04:00.705 --> 00:04:05.903 We demand cooperation from cyber companies and social media platforms in limiting 00:04:05.962 --> 00:04:13.313 [these activities]. In the fight against the Russian cyber threat and cognitive 00:04:13.369 --> 00:04:18.831 warfare, it is necessary to further restrict the sources of financing for the 00:04:18.886 --> 00:04:24.303 Russian war machine. We believe it is justified to continue work on the possibility 00:04:24.371 --> 00:04:30.441 of using frozen Russian assets to support the defence and reconstruction of Ukraine. 00:04:30.515 --> 00:04:36.820 The aggressor should be held accountable for the consequences of the war it 00:04:36.907 --> 00:04:41.625 unleashed. the Schengen visa policy towards Russia should be tightened. 00:04:41.706 --> 00:04:47.823 It is incomprehensible to us in Poland that in 2025 citizens of the Russian 00:04:47.969 --> 00:04:55.320 Federation received a total of 623,000 visas, 84% of them for tourism. 00:04:55.475 --> 00:05:03.711 For comparison, Poland issued 100 visas to Russians in the same period, mainly to 00:05:03.818 --> 00:05:10.762 dissidents for humanitarian reasons. We support ending the issuance of tourist 00:05:10.817 --> 00:05:15.625 Schengen visas to Russian citizens. Russia, as well as individuals linked to the 00:05:15.692 --> 00:05:21.233 Russian Kremlin, Russian athletes, and combatants who participated on the Russian 00:05:21.284 --> 00:05:26.840 side in the aggression against Ukraine, Russia—which is trying to destroy the 00:05:26.909 --> 00:05:31.949 European Union from within—should not benefit from the privileges of free movement 00:05:31.999 --> 00:05:38.303 across Europe. Thank you, ministers of the Council of the Baltic Sea States, High 00:05:38.355 --> 00:05:44.304 Representative, Minister Sibisze, constructive dialogue and a meeting together we 00:05:44.395 --> 00:05:48.622 are defending the security of the whole of Europe 00:05:49.342 --> 00:06:01.285 peace, sanctions, solidarity, thank you very much, thank you very much, er. 00:06:01.360 --> 00:06:05.285 Thank you for hosting us here at this important moment. 00:06:05.378 --> 00:06:12.542 There is, indeed, a new intensive diplomatic push underway to end Russia’s war. 00:06:12.603 --> 00:06:17.787 Europe continues to support all efforts towards a just and lasting peace. 00:06:17.835 --> 00:06:21.413 Today, we discuss with the ministers how we can contribute to this. 00:06:21.476 --> 00:06:26.593 Despite the diplomatic outreach, the reality on the ground is grim. 00:06:26.682 --> 00:06:34.320 This week alone at least 45 civilians have been killed in Ukraine in Russian 00:06:34.486 --> 00:06:39.879 airstrikes, and these are civilians. There is little sign of imminent peace; 00:06:39.989 --> 00:06:44.900 instead, Ukraine faces another very difficult winter. 00:06:44.997 --> 00:06:52.043 Russia will again target Ukraine's power stations that keep the lights on, homes 00:06:52.112 --> 00:06:58.351 warm and water running. Moscow is attempting to freeze Ukraine into surrender, but 00:06:58.454 --> 00:07:04.652 we will not allow it to happen. To bolster Ukraine’s resilience, the EU has 00:07:04.721 --> 00:07:11.898 disbursed a further € 3.6 billion euros under our support loan this week, but it is 00:07:11.966 --> 00:07:15.035 clear that more is needed on the battlefield. 00:07:15.107 --> 00:07:22.999 Russia is stuck – a record 54,000 Russian troops were killed or wounded in October 00:07:23.068 --> 00:07:29.172 alone, and this is a staggering amount, roughly the capacity of Warsaw’s national 00:07:29.268 --> 00:07:35.287 stadium. Russia cannot sustain such losses on such a scale. 00:07:35.426 --> 00:07:42.321 on this scale indefinitely. We cannot say how and when Ukraine and Russia will 00:07:42.376 --> 00:07:48.430 strike a peace deal, but we can say what it needs to be put into effect. 00:07:48.502 --> 00:07:54.700 Any agreement, in order to be implemented, will require the European Union to be 00:07:54.777 --> 00:08:00.675 part of it – from security guarantees, sanctions, reconstruction, to Ukraine’s EU 00:08:00.746 --> 00:08:04.915 accession. There is no way around the European Union. 00:08:04.994 --> 00:08:09.224 Europe has a core security interest vis-à-vis Russia; 00:08:09.300 --> 00:08:14.027 we are not the mediator, we are firmly on Ukraine’s side. 00:08:14.090 --> 00:08:20.450 Any agreement to end the war must prevent Russia from using force again and must not 00:08:20.576 --> 00:08:25.287 allow it to use a pause to rearm and reattack. 00:08:25.383 --> 00:08:30.125 That is why, earlier this year, I put forward a paper with core demands towards 00:08:30.178 --> 00:08:33.221 Moscow, discussed by the European Union Foreign Ministers. 00:08:33.280 --> 00:08:36.824 this should be used as the basis for negotiations; 00:08:36.879 --> 00:08:41.472 there can be no legal recognition of Russia's claim to occupy Ukrainian territory. 00:08:41.526 --> 00:08:46.432 Russia must be held accountable for its war crimes and violations of international 00:08:46.462 --> 00:08:47.122 law. 00:08:47.122 --> 00:08:49.984 must pay for the destruction it has caused. 00:08:50.037 --> 00:08:54.437 Ukraine's sovereignty, independence and the right to choose its own alliances must 00:08:54.501 --> 00:08:59.932 be respected. There can be no compromise on the size of Ukraine's armed forces, and 00:08:59.989 --> 00:09:03.354 children deported from Ukraine must be returned home. 00:09:03.416 --> 00:09:09.467 Russian sabotage across Europe must stop. In short, concessions should be made by 00:09:09.532 --> 00:09:14.979 the aggressor, not the victim. I want to make a fundamental point here: 00:09:15.059 --> 00:09:19.289 we already have a European security architecture in place. 00:09:19.367 --> 00:09:23.141 NATO and the European Union both have theirs respective roles. 00:09:23.194 --> 00:09:27.358 We must ensure that Ukraine is integrated into this architecture. 00:09:27.440 --> 00:09:32.772 The problem remains that Russia keeps violating the treaties that underpin it. 00:09:32.841 --> 00:09:38.950 NATO poses no threat to Russia in 2021, and it poses no threat to Russia at the 00:09:39.019 --> 00:09:43.002 moment. Putin does not have a veto over European security. 00:09:43.070 --> 00:09:48.289 Looking ahead, ministers were clear that we will continue supporting Ukraine and 00:09:48.363 --> 00:09:54.393 dialling up the pressure on Russia, including through the 22nd sanctions package. 00:09:54.465 --> 00:10:00.366 But let’s also let me be clear: Russia did not start this war for money, but it 00:10:00.486 --> 00:10:07.747 started this war because its ability to wage this war also depends on money. 00:10:07.814 --> 00:10:11.104 Energy deals with Russia only prolong the war. 00:10:11.181 --> 00:10:17.284 Ministers also addressed Russia's grey-zone tactics, as Russia is willing to take 00:10:17.345 --> 00:10:22.623 greater risks. Europe must also impose greater costs, through more sanctions and 00:10:22.695 --> 00:10:28.031 tighter measures. control over the movement of Russian diplomats, a visa ban for 00:10:28.089 --> 00:10:33.434 Russian ex-combatants, new counter-drone capabilities and an emergency security 00:10:33.508 --> 00:10:38.009 protocol are some of the options that are currently on the table. 00:10:38.076 --> 00:10:43.390 We are discussing these in the context of Russia’s attacks against Europe, which 00:10:43.455 --> 00:10:48.415 will come at an increasingly heavy price. So, Radek, thank you again for having this 00:10:48.478 --> 00:10:51.771 good and open discussion today. Thank you very much. 00:10:51.835 --> 00:10:58.294 Thank you very much, I will speak in the Ukrainian language, so please use the 00:10:58.376 --> 00:11:06.723 headphones. Thank you, dear friend Rostysław, for your hospitality and an extremely 00:11:06.806 --> 00:11:14.231 substantive and strong meeting. Thank you, dear Kate, for your unwavering strong 00:11:14.315 --> 00:11:21.459 voice of Europe. earlier today, together with my Polish colleague, we held bilateral 00:11:21.533 --> 00:11:23.842 talks; Poland is a reliable 00:11:24.022 --> 00:11:30.155 Poland is Ukraine’s closest ally and a key security and logistics hub for Ukraine, 00:11:30.243 --> 00:11:36.274 and its principled leadership strengthens Europe and brings a just peace closer. 00:11:36.347 --> 00:11:41.995 We have discussed strengthening air and missile defence, cooperation in the field of 00:11:42.045 --> 00:11:47.964 drones, and pressure on the aggressor. We agreed to continue actively developing 00:11:48.014 --> 00:11:52.050 bilateral relations and resolving all issues through constructive dialogue. 00:11:52.107 --> 00:11:57.436 Thank you, Poland, for your support on Ukraine’s path to the EU. 00:11:57.503 --> 00:12:02.786 Thank you. My main message today at this ministerial meeting is... 00:12:02.839 --> 00:12:09.303 there can be no decisions about Ukraine without Ukraine, nor about Europe's security 00:12:09.380 --> 00:12:16.287 without Europe, so Europe must be part of the peace process both before and after 00:12:16.357 --> 00:12:23.025 the meeting in Abu Dhabi. Today, we have coordinated our positions and agreed to 00:12:23.103 --> 00:12:25.957 remain in close contact in the coming days. 00:12:26.004 --> 00:12:30.926 Ukraine takes the planned meeting in Abu Dhabi seriously. 00:12:31.062 --> 00:12:37.308 Our priorities are security guarantees, de-escalation in the Black Sea, an energy 00:12:37.392 --> 00:12:42.813 truce, the return of children, and prisoner exchanges. 00:12:42.891 --> 00:12:46.615 We expect the same seriousness from Russia. 00:12:46.706 --> 00:12:53.975 However, so far, Moscow has responded to peace efforts with terror, strikes on 00:12:54.053 --> 00:13:00.306 energy infrastructure almost every hour, civilian killings, and increased pressure 00:13:00.389 --> 00:13:04.099 on the front. Putin lives in a parallel reality; 00:13:04.218 --> 00:13:08.865 he claims that Ukraine controls only 10% of Donbas. 00:13:08.943 --> 00:13:12.849 this is a lie; in reality, it is around 20%. 00:13:12.957 --> 00:13:21.662 The reality on the front is different. In October, Russia lost over 54,000 soldiers 00:13:21.726 --> 00:13:28.833 killed and seriously wounded. Ukraine has liberated more territory than Russia has 00:13:28.936 --> 00:13:35.336 been able to occupy. Our positions at the front are the strongest in the last three 00:13:35.398 --> 00:13:41.569 years. We will continue the long-range campaign to bring the war onto Russian 00:13:41.623 --> 00:13:47.093 territory. The further Ukraine is able to strike, the sooner the war will end. 00:13:47.160 --> 00:13:53.434 I have called on our partners not to postpone major strategic decisions until next 00:13:53.489 --> 00:13:59.854 year. Time is of the essence. we need to make the most of the time left until the 00:13:59.932 --> 00:14:04.528 end of the year. There are two key clusters in the negotiations on Ukraine’s 00:14:04.608 --> 00:14:09.966 accession to the European Union: effective use of frozen Russian assets, additional 00:14:10.074 --> 00:14:16.348 macro-financial support, new sanctions, more air defence and energy support before 00:14:16.423 --> 00:14:19.915 winter. Pressure on Russia must be felt also at sea. 00:14:20.006 --> 00:14:24.622 Now, we need decisive action, not half-measures, not weakness, not 00:14:24.742 --> 00:14:29.025 peace and pacification require strength and unity. 00:14:29.168 --> 00:14:31.586 Ukraine is no longer simply asking for help; 00:14:31.631 --> 00:14:36.707 Ukraine is a partner and contributor to security, and our allies recognise this. 00:14:36.768 --> 00:14:40.842 Our combat experience, defence industry and technologies can strengthen collective 00:14:40.902 --> 00:14:45.382 defence right now, even before our accession to the NATO alliance. 00:14:45.461 --> 00:14:50.288 The alliance needs Ukraine just as much as Ukraine needs the alliance. 00:14:50.342 --> 00:14:52.583 That is why I have proposed concrete steps: 00:14:52.626 --> 00:14:56.359 to include Ukraine in the working group on countering hybrid threats, to share 00:14:56.414 --> 00:15:01.844 experience in protecting the sky from drones, and to grant Ukraine the status of a 00:15:01.915 --> 00:15:07.044 full member in the JEF. Long-term peace and security in Europe are possible only 00:15:07.172 --> 00:15:13.146 with Ukraine's participation. There is currently an intensified debate in Ukraine 00:15:13.212 --> 00:15:15.611 about the security architecture of Europe. 00:15:15.661 --> 00:15:20.581 I am convinced that its future is being determined on the battlefield in Ukraine, 00:15:20.627 --> 00:15:25.125 and it is precisely whether the Russian aggression will end with a just and 00:15:25.203 --> 00:15:31.110 dignified peace that will determine whether Europe can live in peace. 00:15:31.174 --> 00:15:36.517 Russia is not and cannot be a guarantor of security for the European continent. 00:15:36.592 --> 00:15:40.426 This is important: Russia cannot be a guarantor of security; 00:15:40.485 --> 00:15:46.396 it is the greatest threat to Europe and an aggressive regime that has unleashed the 00:15:46.524 --> 00:15:48.985 largest war of conquest since the Second World War. 00:15:49.029 --> 00:15:53.877 The formula for the security architecture of Europe is a formula for reliable 00:15:53.939 --> 00:15:58.939 protection from Russia, not for talks with Russians about dividing spheres of 00:15:59.004 --> 00:16:01.832 influence in Europe. All this is in the past; 00:16:01.890 --> 00:16:09.377 there will be no more spheres of influence, no second Yalta or Munich. 00:16:09.432 --> 00:16:14.976 The time has come for European strength and unity. 00:16:15.046 --> 00:16:19.865 Thank you for your attention. But we do have time, so I have one question. 00:16:19.924 --> 00:16:24.650 So, please, good evening. How does today’s meeting in Warsaw demonstrate that Europe 00:16:24.727 --> 00:16:30.045 speaks with one voice – Europe and Ukraine, of course – and acts together in shaping 00:16:30.109 --> 00:16:34.373 its own security? And in this context, Donald Trump has referred to a potential 00:16:34.430 --> 00:16:37.914 major agreement, as he said, between Ukraine and Russia, suggesting that 00:16:37.969 --> 00:16:41.957 negotiations could have implications for the whole of Europe. 00:16:42.006 --> 00:16:47.349 Jared Kushner has also said that Trump has spoken with several European leaders. 00:16:47.397 --> 00:16:50.772 What do we know about those discussions? Is Poland involved? 00:16:50.874 --> 00:16:56.477 involved in them and, more importantly, are there any concerns that the United 00:16:56.521 --> 00:16:57.142 States and 00:16:57.142 --> 00:17:04.940 Russia might seek to negotiate a new security arrangement over the heads of Ukraine 00:17:05.033 --> 00:17:09.968 and Europe. Thank you. The question is for all of you. 00:17:10.126 --> 00:17:18.390 An arrangement about the future of Ukraine and of Europe above our heads would not 00:17:18.466 --> 00:17:27.116 just be unwise; it is actually impossible, because Europe and Ukraine have agency, 00:17:27.219 --> 00:17:32.906 and they will or will not agree to anything that is agreed. 00:17:33.212 --> 00:17:40.345 And you should also remember that we already have the Lisbon Treaty, which very 00:17:40.427 --> 00:17:45.951 clearly stipulates who is entitled to speak on behalf of the European Union at the 00:17:46.024 --> 00:17:52.699 leaders’ level: it is the President of the European Council, and at the ministers’ 00:17:52.762 --> 00:17:57.951 level, it is the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security 00:17:58.004 --> 00:18:04.581 Policy. foreign affairs, who is with us and who is the most competent person to 00:18:04.646 --> 00:18:07.319 comment. Yes, thank you for this question. 00:18:07.380 --> 00:18:12.281 Any agreement needs to be implemented, and for implementation you need Europe on 00:18:12.338 --> 00:18:18.813 board. As Radek said, any agreement that we are not party to, we will not implement 00:18:18.906 --> 00:18:26.589 either. You know about this agreement: what is really asked of the European Union 00:18:26.662 --> 00:18:30.946 is, you know, what happens to the sanctions, what happens to the frozen assets. 00:18:30.997 --> 00:18:34.639 All these things are decisions of the European Union. 00:18:34.714 --> 00:18:40.602 So you can try to agree, and we have already seen attempts, if you think about the 00:18:40.675 --> 00:18:46.334 Anchorage agreement or arrangement, then it hasn’t really simply worked because 00:18:46.429 --> 00:18:51.865 Europe has been backing it, and we need to be part of these discussions. 00:18:51.916 --> 00:18:57.304 But most of all, it’s important that Ukraine and Russia sit down and agree. 00:18:57.393 --> 00:19:03.472 For that, this negotiation table needs to be more equal, and that’s why we have 00:19:03.547 --> 00:19:09.052 proposed a real paper on concessions that we need to see on the Russian side. 00:19:09.097 --> 00:19:15.406 So far, all the pressure has been on Ukraine, which is not correct, because we have 00:19:15.486 --> 00:19:20.863 one aggressor and one victim, and actually in in order to stop the war, the pressure 00:19:20.919 --> 00:19:27.229 should be on the aggressor, and moreover, in order to have a secure Europe, we must 00:19:27.297 --> 00:19:30.022 make sure that Russia does not attack again 00:19:32.482 --> 00:19:38.443 I totally agree with Radek and Kaja and I fully share your statements. 00:19:38.516 --> 00:19:44.387 I do not wish to repeat them, but I would like to emphasise the key fundamental 00:19:44.461 --> 00:19:51.102 elements of our position: territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine; 00:19:51.177 --> 00:19:55.768 nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine; nothing about Europe without Europe; 00:19:55.839 --> 00:20:01.031 no restrictions on our defence capabilities and capacities, and no restrictions on 00:20:01.080 --> 00:20:08.799 our army; no restrictions on the right of our choice in the area of our foreign 00:20:08.909 --> 00:20:14.566 policy; and, of course, strong security guarantees. 00:20:14.665 --> 00:20:18.588 Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. 00:20:18.721 --> 00:20:25.282 If there are any national questions, I can return to them.