Polish President Andrzej Duda speaks at a joint briefing with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, Latvian President Egils Levits and Estonian President Alar Karis (not pictured) as Russia’s attack on Ukraine continues in Kyiv, Ukraine. , April 13, 2022. REUTERS / Valentin Ogirenko
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Kyiv, May 22 (Reuters) – Only Ukraine has the right to decide its future, the Polish president told lawmakers in Kyiv on Sunday as he became the first foreign leader to address the Ukrainian parliament in person since the February 24 invasion.
Kyiv rejected any peace agreement that would include ceding territory and rejected calls for a ceasefire that would include Russian forces remaining in the occupied territory, saying it would simply give Moscow time to regain its strength.
“There have been alarming voices saying that Ukraine must yield to Putin’s demands,” Andrzej Duda said. “Only Ukraine has the right to decide its future … nothing for you without you,” he added after a standing ovation.
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Duda said the international community should ask Russia to withdraw completely from Ukrainian territory.
“If Ukraine is sacrificed for … economic reasons or political ambitions – even an inch from its territory – it will be a huge blow not only to the Ukrainian nation, but to the entire Western world,” Duda said.
The birthplace of the Solidarity trade union, which played a role in ending communism in Eastern Europe, Poland’s relations with Russia have long been strained. After the Russian invasion, Warsaw positioned itself as one of Kyiv’s most loyal allies.
Poland is a staunch supporter of tough sanctions against Russia and is vocal in its support for Ukraine becoming a member of the European Union.
“I will not rest until Ukraine becomes a member of the European Union,” Duda said on Sunday.
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Reports by Max Hunder, Connor Humphries, Natalia Zinets, Pavel Florkevich, Alan Charlish; Edited by Toby Chopra
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