He expressed hope that Monday’s meeting of Poland’s National Security Council would bring clear answers regarding the United States' policy on Ukraine.
“I hope that both Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski and President Andrzej Duda will return [from Washington] with concrete information and present it to us at the National Security Council,” Hołownia said during a visit to Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski in central Poland.
He urged the US administration to demonstrate stronger alliance commitments and provide real support for Ukraine.
“It’s time for action," Hołownia said, emphasizing the need for the US administration to clearly define its stance on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and reaffirm its commitment to the values that underpin NATO.
“Russia is the aggressor in this war; it was Russia that attacked Ukraine, not the other way around,” Hołownia said, calling for decisive action toward a “just and lasting peace.”
Poland has a direct stake in European security due to its geographic position and historical experiences, Hołownia argued.
“We share a border with Ukraine and over 200 kilometers with Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave. We also have a more than 400-kilometer border with Belarus, which is effectively a Russian colony. This situation directly affects us,” he said.
Hołownia also called for the release of frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine purchase weapons.
“Europe must finally have the courage to confiscate Russian money and hand it over to [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelensky so he can build the defense lines Ukraine desperately needs. Ukraine has been pleading for a long time to use these frozen assets to buy weapons,” he said.
Defending the Ukrainian president, Hołownia described Zelensky as a hero fighting for his nation’s freedom.
“President Zelensky is not a dictator whom Ukrainians do not support — he is a legally elected president with the backing of nearly 60 percent of Ukrainian society,” he said.
He stressed that Ukraine must have the decisive voice in any peace negotiations.
“Ukrainians have the right to decide because they have paid an enormous price in blood fighting off this fascist Russian invader,” Hołownia said.
The lower-house Speaker also criticized the growing influence of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which he accused of promoting pro-Russian policies.
“In Germany, the AfD is saying: ‘Not only should we not take money from Russia, but we should give them more! We should make money with them, rebuild Nord Stream.’ This is exactly what some politicians in Poland are saying too,” Hołownia warned, stressing that Europe needs leaders willing to speak the truth and make bold decisions.
He criticized Polish far-right politician Sławomir Mentzen for allegedly pushing the country toward an alliance with AfD, which he accused of seeking to redraw Europe’s borders.
“Mentzen is pulling us toward a party that openly says Europe must restart its relations with Russia and rebuild Nord Stream 2,” Hołownia said, referring to the canceled Russian-German gas pipeline project.
He also responded to remarks by Karol Nawrocki, head of Poland’s Institute of National Remembrance, and a right-wing presidential candidate who accused Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski of working with the European Union against the United States.
“It’s quite childish to try to pit us against the European Union by using Trump,” Hołownia said.
Concluding his speech, Hołownia called for strong leadership in Europe.
“Europe needs leaders who have the courage to speak the truth—even when it is difficult, even when it is unpopular,” he said.
He pledged continued engagement in international politics and closer cooperation with European and American leaders to strengthen security in Poland and across the continent.
(rt/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP