Karol Nawrocki, President of Poland, said that the world has changed since the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine.  “We were awakened from a blissful dream in which we strived for international peace and respect for international law.  This dream no longer exists.”  Borders have ceased to be untouchable and international law — “the compass of world order” — is treated as a suggestion rather than a rule. He described the Polish people’s solidarity with the Ukrainian nation, opening their hearts and homes to one million Ukrainian refugees while also providing Ukraine with military and diplomatic support.

“We are at a turning point in history,” with the principle of sovereignty increasingly trampled upon, he said.  Decisions taken today will have consequences for decades to come, and for the community of democratic nations, and those striving to be democratic, this is the last moment to take concrete action.  In that regard, he emphasized that the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine is a test of the principles on which the UN is founded.  Moscow speaks of the “root causes of the conflict”, but these are primarily ideological, as it views other nations as colonial property and justifies invasion as a historical correction, he said.

The violation of Poland’s borders by Russian drones on the night of 9 September was not a coincidence, he said, asserting that Poland will always respond to such acts.  Noting that Poland is strengthening ties with its Bucharest Nine partners, he declared:  “We do not consent to Moscow’s ruthless acts of provocation against us and other European countries.”  Lasting peace cannot be built by rewarding aggression, he said, asserting that when Moscow says peace, it really means surrender.  Holding the Russian Federation accountable should be a common duty, he said, underscoring Poland’s support for the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court and its endorsement of the idea of a special ad hoc tribunal to try the perpetrators of aggression.  “If we want to build a community of democratic States … then we must agree that war must not pay off economically to any aggressor,” he said.

Turning to other global challenges, he said that in the Middle East, Israel has the right to self-defence following the brutal attacks staged by Hamas in October 2023, but its actions must comply with international law and international humanitarian law.  Poland supports the two-State solution and calls on the UN to take action to improve the situation.  With no history as a colonial power, Poland is a reliable and trustworthy partner for Asian and African countries.  He agreed with President Trump that Europe has fallen deep into “ideological madness” as seen by its migration and environmental policies and the purchase of cheap Russian gas.  Describing Christians as one of the most persecuted groups in the world, he said that the human rights of all individuals, from conception to natural death, must be defended, and noted Poland’s candidacy for a seat in the Human Rights Council for the 2029-2031 period.