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The ambassadors of Poland and Ukraine to Ankara and the European Union delegation’s chargé d’affaires held a joint press conference as the fourth year of Russia’s full-scale attack on Ukraine passes.
Poland’s Ambassador to Ankara Maciej Lang, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Ankara Nariman Celal and EU Delegation Charge d’Affaires Jurgis Vilcinskas met at the Polish Embassy in Ankara to assess the ongoing war.
Ambassador Lang underlined the importance of Ukraine’s resilience for Europe’s defense architecture, saying developments in Ukraine concern both the country itself and Europe’s future.
He said Poland has supported Ukraine since the beginning of the war, which started nearly four years ago with Russia’s attacks, and opened its doors to Ukrainians. He also noted that recent Russian attacks on energy infrastructure have caused damage, leading to a humanitarian crisis.
Lang announced that the second selection of Polish-Ukrainian films titled “Spirit of Freedom” will be screened on Feb. 20-21 at Kult Kavaklidere Cinema in Ankara, reflecting themes of freedom and solidarity.
Ambassador Celal said the war imposed on Ukraine is not only aimed at changing borders but also at destroying identity, culture and memory. He stressed that cultural activities are a form of resistance.
Noting that the war has continued since 2014 and that a full-scale invasion has been ongoing for four years, Celal said Russian attacks on the energy sector aim to leave people without electricity and heat.
He said Ukraine seeks an end to the war and the restoration of citizens’ security, emphasizing three key principles in peace negotiations: a just and lasting peace, security guarantees as an integral part of any agreement, and consideration of Europe’s voice.
“Ukraine’s security is part of Europe’s security. Peace must not mean a pause for new aggression,” Celal said.
Celal highlighted the value Ukraine attaches to Türkiye’s regional role, saying support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and contributions to Black Sea stability are significant.
He said Ukraine has never given up on Türkiye serving as a platform for peace talks and meetings.
“We always want Türkiye to be a guarantor in this peace process and in the future peace period,” Celal said.
He added that Ukraine supports Türkiye’s participation in Europe’s security architecture and noted strengthened defense industry cooperation between Ukraine and Türkiye, as well as between the EU and Türkiye.
Celal expressed gratitude for the support of Türkiye, the U.S. and the EU in the peace process and reiterated readiness to continue the process in Türkiye. He recalled that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he is ready to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin anywhere, while alleging that Russia avoids talks that would end the war.
Vilcinskas said Ukraine has remained strong despite four years of attacks and that screening films about Ukraine in Ankara confirms that the country’s political, civil and artistic voices are heard.
He said European partners stand with Ukraine’s political, civil and artistic voices and that reconstruction efforts continue despite the attacks, adding that support will persist as long as necessary.
Stressing that any peace must be just, impartial and sustainable, Vilcinskas said a peace agreement must include strong security guarantees for Ukraine. Without such guarantees, he warned, any agreement could be used to move into other regions.
Vilcinskas also argued that Russia is delaying negotiations and avoiding discussion of the core issues, and emphasized that pressure must continue.
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