Poland is going to Russia at the World Cup to play with other teams, not with the Russian government, Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski said in an interview with Polska Times. He stressed that the world is not black and white and there are many shades of gray in it. And since Ukraine did not fight for the Crimea, Poland doesn’t need to do this either.
Shortly after the Eastern Partnership summit, the Russians expelled a Polish historian from their territory. To the question whether it was a reaction to the fact that the summit did not fail, Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski, in an interview with the Polska Times portal, said: “I would like to think that this is a misunderstanding. I would not link this with the Eastern Partnership, it would not be an exhaustive answer. Another question is that Russia has long been trying to rewrite the history of the ΧΧ century. It regularly challenges the main facts.” In this, according to the Minister, Poland was convinced of the investigation of the Hatyn crime. “Now we are trying to deal with the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact. Recently, the Russian ambassador in one of the interviews was surprised that Poland is touching upon the issue of this pact. Also we see their approach to monuments,” he added.
In Poland, within the framework of the law on decommunization, the next monuments that honor the Red Army are being demolished. However, the Polish Foreign Minister considers the deportation of the Polish historian as an element, above all, of Russia’s historical policy. He notes that an unexpected response to the Eastern Partnership summit could be a sudden attempt to control countries further from Europe, for example, Armenia. Such a response could also be the teachings of the “West”. “Because Russia does not want to introduce European standards into its environment. It feels better in muddy water,” Waszczykowski noted.
Commenting on the participation of the Polish national team in the upcoming World Cup 2018 in Russia, which could become a “Vladimir Putin’s festival,” the minister said: “The world is not black and white now. Unfortunately, there are many shades of gray. But if Russia took Crimea from Ukraine, and despite this, Kiev is not at war with Moscow, then why do we need it? Of course, Russia violates international standards, but does this mean that we must increase tensions? “
Asked whether at any international forum there was a discussion on whether to boycott the championship in Russia or to try to take it away from it, the Polish Foreign Minister replied that in fact a few years ago such discussions took place as and with regard to corruption in Russia or doping, but they did not lead to any result, because the “real policy” took over. However, it wins even in smaller countries, at least in Syria, Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski summed up in an interview with the Polska Times portal.