Polish President Andrzej Duda today marked Independence Day with a call for a lasting and sustainable US commitment to the security of Europe in view of Russian aggression in the region and said that Ukraine's borders from before 2014 must be restored, the Associated Press reported.
The thought of the war across Poland's border in Ukraine and the expectation that Donald Trump's return to the White House will lead to a change in the security situation in the region weigh on many, AP notes.
Some fear that Trump could end the US commitment to NATO or strike a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin that could result in a permanent loss of territory to Ukraine and encourage Russia to attack other countries. Others believe that Trump could persuade Putin to stop the fighting.
Duda, who is on friendly terms with Trump, said in a speech in Warsaw that Europe will continue to need US protection.
"It is an unrealistic dream - as some people think - that Europe can guarantee its own security today,” said Duda.
He stressed that security guarantees from US presidents are extremely important in times of resurgent Russian imperialism.
"Today we have no doubt that for the security of Europe and the world it is necessary to strengthen the Euro-Atlantic ties”, said Duda.
He said that the territorial integrity of all countries, especially Ukraine, must be respected and that it "must return to its borders before the Russian attack in 2014, not just those in 2022." .
Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula in Ukraine in 2014, and in 2022 a full-scale invasion began, AP recalls..
Duda later said at a press conference that he had spoken with Trump and that the two would meet before the US president takes office in January.
Duda spoke as Poland marked the 106th anniversary of its regained independence at the end of the First World War.