Poland's president has called for the Nord Stream pipelines to be dismantled, saying that gas supplies from Russia to Western Europe should never resume, even if a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine is reached.
The two Nord Stream pipelines were built to carry natural gas under the Baltic Sea from Russia to northern Germany. Built by the Russian company Gazprom, Nord Stream 1 was shut down in 2022, and while Nord Stream 2 never became operational, both pipelines were damaged by explosions that same year.
“I can only hope that European leaders will learn lessons from Russia's aggression against Ukraine and that they will push through a decision to never restore the pumping of gas through this pipeline,” Duda told the BBC while attending the World Economic Forum in Davos.
“I believe the Nord Stream pipelines should be dismantled,” Duda said. “This pipeline causes a very big threat to Ukraine, to Poland, to Slovakia, but also to other Central European countries.”
“It is a threat from the point of view of energy, from the point of view of the military, but also a huge economic threat because it means a domination of Russia over Europe in the economic sense,” he added.
In terms of the potential for peace between Russia and Ukraine now that President Donald Trump is in office, Duda maintained that any talks must include Ukraine.
“I'm saying that in my capacity as president of the Republic of Poland, as a neighbor to Ukraine, and also as president of a country that has had very hard historic experiences itself,” he told the BBC.
Referring to World War II and the Yalta Conference, Duda noted that Poland was excluded from critical discussions and later found itself under Soviet influence.
“Certain agreements were made above our heads, and then we found ourselves behind the Iron Curtain for almost 50 years,” he said.
Duda stressed that it would be “a violation of international law” for Russia to retain any Ukrainian territories it has occupied.
“The international community cannot agree, and it is unacceptable that Russia would take certain territories of Ukraine and keep them by force. This is unacceptable. We must not let Russia win this war,” the Polish president said.
“President Donald Trump—as the leader of the most powerful country within NATO, as the leader of the most powerful economy—will be of key importance,” Duda continued.
“I can only hope that European leaders will learn lessons from Russia's aggression against Ukraine and that they will push through a decision to never restore the pumping of gas through this pipeline,” Duda told the BBC while attending the World Economic Forum in Davos.
“I believe the Nord Stream pipelines should be dismantled,” Duda said. “This pipeline causes a very big threat to Ukraine, to Poland, to Slovakia, but also to other Central European countries.”
“It is a threat from the point of view of energy, from the point of view of the military, but also a huge economic threat because it means a domination of Russia over Europe in the economic sense,” he added.
Trump’s impact on Ukraine
In terms of the potential for peace between Russia and Ukraine now that President Donald Trump is in office, Duda maintained that any talks must include Ukraine.
“I'm saying that in my capacity as president of the Republic of Poland, as a neighbor to Ukraine, and also as president of a country that has had very hard historic experiences itself,” he told the BBC.
Referring to World War II and the Yalta Conference, Duda noted that Poland was excluded from critical discussions and later found itself under Soviet influence.
“Certain agreements were made above our heads, and then we found ourselves behind the Iron Curtain for almost 50 years,” he said.
Duda stressed that it would be “a violation of international law” for Russia to retain any Ukrainian territories it has occupied.
“The international community cannot agree, and it is unacceptable that Russia would take certain territories of Ukraine and keep them by force. This is unacceptable. We must not let Russia win this war,” the Polish president said.
“President Donald Trump—as the leader of the most powerful country within NATO, as the leader of the most powerful economy—will be of key importance,” Duda continued.
More In Politics MORE...