Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski criticized reports that the US was trying to persuade European allies to soften public statements about the threat from Russia. As an argument, the head of Polish diplomacy cited the Russian strike on the Dnipro railway station, which killed civilians.
Sikorski said this on October 30 during a conversation with journalists in Atlanta, where the G20 foreign ministers' meeting is taking place, Polsat News reports.
The reason was reports that Pentagon representatives in recent weeks had recommended certain NATO countries to speak more restrainedly about the Russian threat. According to Reuters, such appeals were received by Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
The agency's interlocutors claim that the American side considers some statements by European politicians capable of exacerbating the situation in the security sphere. Among the US representatives who conveyed the relevant recommendations was Deputy Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby.
Responding to journalists' questions, Sikorski reminded about the deaths of passengers during the Russian strike on the Dnipro railway station.
"I would like someone to explain to me how one should react to the killing of more than a dozen passengers at the station in Dnipro", — said the Polish minister.
He also questioned the possibility of a restrained reaction to Russian bombings of Ukrainian cities and the use of ballistic missiles against heat energy facilities.
According to Sikorski, Poland has already formed a position regarding Russian aggression. He suggested addressing the question of the need to change rhetoric to those who come up with such recommendations.
However, the Pentagon has not officially confirmed information about such appeals to allies. A representative of the US defense department refused to comment on the content of closed negotiations between NATO countries.
A separate topic of the conversation with journalists was the participation of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in the G20 meeting in Atlanta.
Sikorski stated that he does not intend to be photographed together with the Russian minister. According to him, he is not the only participant of the meeting who does not want a joint photo with Lavrov.
The head of the Polish Foreign Ministry admitted that the presence of the Russian representative creates an uncomfortable situation, but reminded that Russia remains a participant in international organizations in which certain rules apply.
Sikorski also intends to convey to Lavrov the demand to stop the war against Ukraine. He stressed that nearly five years of full-scale hostilities must end.
Journalists also asked the Polish minister about the absence of the Ukrainian delegation at the meeting. Sikorski refrained from assessing Washington's decision, noting that this question should be addressed to the organizers of the event.
According to Polish Radio, among the main topics of the G20 meeting are maritime security, food and energy security. Sikorski intends to draw participants' attention to the consequences of the Russian war for international trade and food supplies.
Based on materials from: Polsat News, Polskie Radio, Defense News.
