As Russia continues to pound Ukraine's energy infrastructure, Warsaw is stepping up efforts to help its neighbor withstand the cold months Poland will provide an additional 8 million zlotys (€1.8 million) to help buy generators for Ukraine ahead of winter, Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said on Friday, as countries in the region pledged to strengthen military and financial support for Kyiv. Speaking after a meeting of the Council of the Baltic Sea States in Warsaw, Sikorski said the gathering had confirmed regional unity in the face of Russia's ongoing aggression. He also stressed that Ukraine must have a say in any negotiations over its future, warning that no settlement could be imposed on the embattled country without its consent. “Ukraine should not negotiate its future under the pressure of shelling against civilians,” Sikorski said. “No solution can be imposed on Ukraine without its consent and presence at the table,” he added, arguing that European security must also not be discussed without the involvement of countries most exposed to the consequences of a potential deal with Russia. His comments came days before US-mediated talks between Ukrainian and Russian negotiators in Abu Dhabi on November 10–11. The working-level meeting is expected to focus on ending the war, post-conflict security arrangements, de-escalation and humanitarian measures. It will be the first round of US-brokered talks since February, when the process was suspended after the US and Israel went to war with Iran. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also attended Friday's meeting in Warsaw, where preparing for Abu Dhabi was on the agenda. The Council of the Baltic Sea States is a forum for cooperation among the countries around the Baltic. Ukraine is an observer. Russia, a founding member, left in 2022 after being suspended over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Military drills Sikorski said Poland was ready to contribute to future efforts to secure peace. He pointed to military exercises next week involving the so-called coalition of the willing, a group of more than 30 mostly European countries led by Britain and France that is planning security guarantees for Ukraine. The drills, called Koalicja (“Coalition”), will run from November 9 to 22 at Nowa Dęba in southeastern Poland. Thousands of troops from 11 countries will take part, alongside Ukrainian soldiers. The United States is not involved. The exercise is the first large-scale test of whether a potential multinational force drawn from the coalition's members could deploy to Ukraine once a ceasefire takes effect. The force would aim to deter Russia from resuming the war, help protect Ukraine’s skies and sea routes, and help rebuild its armed forces. Poland was chosen as host partly because much of Western aid to Ukraine passes through its territory.
Poland's Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said that Ukraine must have a say in any negotiations over its future. (PAP)
