Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently stated that President Vladimir Putin is the only Russian official he is willing to meet with to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.
Addressing an audience at the World Economic Forum in Davos by video link, Zelensky explained that discussions with Russia had become increasingly difficult in light of Russian actions against Ukrainian civilians, including the discovery of mass graves in areas formerly occupied by Russian troops.
Earlier in the day, Zelensky told global business leaders meeting at Davos that the world faces “a turning point” and has to ramp up sanctions against Russia as a warning to other countries considering using brute force.
Following on Zelensky’s comments, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki urged the free world to “work towards a peaceful solution” to the Ukraine war, “but this peaceful solution has to mean that Ukraine has to be independent and sovereign.”
Source: Radio Poland, PAP, Reuters
Polish Climate Minister Anna Moskwa announced yesterday that Poland has officially decided to terminate its Yamal pipeline agreement with Russia.
In an interview with the Polish Press Agency, Moskwa said that the decision came naturally due to Russia breaching the contract by halting gas supplies to Poland last month. The halt in supplies came after the Polish government refused to pay for Russian gas in roubles.
In March, the government of Poland announced a plan to renounce Russian coal, oil, and gas by the end of the year. Impacts of the transition will reportedly be offset by a new liquefied natural gas terminal in the northwestern city of Świnoujście, the soon-to-be-launched Baltic Pipe pipeline from Norway, and a floating terminal in Gdańsk.
In comments last month, Prime Minister Morawiecki called on Poland’s “EU neighbors, partners, and friends” to similarly “renounce Russian oil, gas, and coal as soon as possible.”
Source: Radio Poland, PAP
Poland’s Central Statistical Office (GUS) released preliminary results and key findings of the 2021 census yesterday, including an increase in residents of non-Polish origin.
According to the census, 99.7 percent of people living in Poland (37.9 million residents) had Polish citizenship in 2021, similar to the 99.8 percent recorded in the previous census in 2011.
The number of non-Polish residents rose from 55,400 in 2011 to 111,800 in 2021. Ukrainian citizens accounted for 47.4 percent of that total, while Belarusians represented 16.6 percent, followed by EU citizens at 13.9 percent, Russian citizens at 4.4 percent, German citizens at 3.2 percent, and citizens of Vietnam at 2.5 percent.
Notably, Poland’s number of British-born residents has more than tripled since 2011, a shift some analysts attribute to the impact of Brexit in 2020 and return migration resulting from the 2019 COVID pandemic.
The full census report can be accessed at http://stat.gov.pl.
Source: PAP, Radio Poland
Polish tennis phenom Iga Świątek has advanced to the second round of the French Open Grand Slam tennis tournament with a 6-2, 6-0 win on Monday against Lesia Tsurenko of Ukraine.
No. 1 ranked Świątek is looking to claim a 30th straight match victory tomorrow when she faces off against 31-year-old American Alison Riske.
Fellow Pole Magda Linette will also have a chance to advance at the French Open on Wednesday if she wins her match against Martina Trevisan of Italy.
Source: wtatennis.com
Gdańsk officials are warning of traffic delays near Granary Island over the next few weeks due to the renovation of the Dolnomiejski Bridge on ul. Podwale Przedmiejskie.
The first phase of work on the bridge connecting Granary Island (Wyspa Spichrzów) to the neighborhood of Dolne Miasto began yesterday and is scheduled to last for the next 2.5 months.
According to a spokesperson for the Gdańsk Road and Greenery Authority (GZDiZ), the right and middle lanes of the bridge in the direction of Stogi will be closed during this time. Drivers will be able to use the left lane but are cautioned to expect delays and potential traffic jams as the tourist season kicks into full gear.
Source: Radio Gdańsk
Weather
Today will be mostly cloudy, with a good chance for rain in the afternoon and evening and a brisk wind coming in from the south. Temperatures will peak around a high of 20°C, or 68°F, dropping to an overnight low of 12°C or 54°F. Slightly cooler weather is expected for tomorrow, with a chance for rain showers throughout the week.
Elizabeth Peck
