Warsaw: Mateusz Morawiecki, the prime minister of Poland, claims Kiev committed a grave error in summoning Warsaw's representative in response to comments made by a senior member of the presidential staff who suggested Kiev should show greater appreciation for the enormous amounts of foreign aid it has received.
In response, Morawiecki stated in a tweet on Tuesday that the choice to summon the Polish ambassador "should never have taken place," noting that his nation has supported Ukraine ever since the conflict with Russia first broke out last year.
The prime minister declared that such errors "should not happen in international politics, in the face of the ongoing war, and taking into account the enormous support that Poland has given Ukraine."
Also Read: White House Sounds Alarm: Concerns Mount Over 'Slow' Ukrainian Counteroffensive
"We will always protect Poland's reputation and security, and no other nation's interests will ever take precedence over those of the Republic of Poland."
After being summoned by the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry to discuss recent remarks made by Marcin Przydacz, head of the international policy bureau in the Polish presidential administration, the prime minister responded shortly after.
Also Read: Iran's Revolutionary Guard practises as US forces expand their presence in the region
Speaking to Polish broadcaster TVP, Przydacz defended Poland's ban on Ukrainian grain imports, saying "it would be fitting for Ukraine to start appreciating the role Poland has played for Ukraine over the recent months and years."
The comments prompted a negative response from the Ukrainian government, as stated by Oleg Nikolenko, the spokesman for the foreign ministry: "The statements about the alleged ingratitude of the Ukrainians for the assistance of the Republic of Poland do not reflect reality and as such are unacceptable."
Andrey Sibiga, the deputy head of the Ukrainian president's administration, denounced the "unfounded claims" that Kiev does not value assistance from its neighbour.
Also Read: Sky-High Deal: Turkiye Sells 12 Drones to Indonesia in $300 Million Transaction
Pawel Jablonski, the foreign minister of Poland, rejected Kiev's criticisms and insisted that Poland's policies are determined by Polish interests while highlighting the substantial assistance Poland has provided to Ukraine over the past year.
Early in the conflict with Moscow, the EU reduced agricultural export quotas and tariffs from Ukraine to help the nation's economy. As a result, cheap grain has entered the EU's common market, igniting protests from farmers in Eastern Europe. Five of the bloc's members—including Poland—initially tightened their own regulations on Ukrainian grain, but the EU as a whole later imitated them by formally banning it.
Vladimir Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, has called on Brussels to remove the restrictions by September 15 and Prime Minister Denis Shmigal has specifically referred to Poland's stance as "unfriendly and populist."