Ukraine was the top item of discussion during a phone call yesterday between Poland’s top diplomat Zbigniew Rau and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. According to a statement issued by the Polish Foreign Ministry, Rau and Blinken highlighted the need for coordinated action to support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, confirming that “any further Russian military aggression against Ukraine will have severe consequences for the Kremlin”.

The two top diplomats also discussed “the current security situation in Europe,” including Russia’s escalation of “hostile activities towards Ukraine and the continued hybrid attack by Belarus at its border with Poland”.

A statement by the US State Department emphasized the United States’ “unshakeable commitment to transatlantic security as the cornerstone for regional stability and prosperity” and also “expressed appreciation” for President Andrzej Duda’s veto of a proposed media ownership law.

Source: Radio Poland, gov.pl. state.gov

Poland’s foreign ministry voiced concern and disappointment after Russia’s Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled to disband the well-known human rights group “Memorial.”

In a statement released online yesterday, Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs hailed the International Memorial Society as “one of Russia’s oldest, best-known and distinguished civil society organizations” focused on “defending human rights and research aimed at documenting Stalinist crimes”.

Poland “is grateful and has a high regard for the Society’s immense effort to reveal the truth about repressions against Poles, in particular the Katyn Massacre, the Augustów Roundup, and the Polish Operation by the NKVD,” the statement added.

Yesterday’s ruling by the Russian Supreme Court capped a year of crackdowns on opposition movements and human rights groups, which has also seen top Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny jailed, his political movement banned, and many of his allies forced to flee abroad.

According to reports in Reuters, the Russian government claims it is attempting to thwart extremism and shield the country from excessive foreign influence.

Source: Radio Poland, Reuters, PAP

On Tuesday, President Andrzej Duda signed into law new rules that introduce a one-time cost-of-living allowance to help poorer households cope with rising energy and food prices.

As part of the government’s anti-inflation package, the benefit is targeted at households with an average monthly income of up to PLN 1,500 (EUR 326) per person. In the case of single persons the limit is PLN 2,100 (EUR 456).

The exact size of the benefit will depend on the size of the household and range from PLN 400 (EUR 87) for a single-person household to PLN 1,150 (EUR 250) for households with six or more people, with an additional increase of 25 percent for those living in coal-heated buildings.

Those who exceed the income threshold will still be able to claim the benefit, according to officials. In such cases, the allowance will be reduced by the amount by which the income threshold is exceeded.

The main objective of the “shield law” is to support residents in financial need by covering some of the costs of rising energy and food prices. The supplement will be offered twice a year, with the first installment to be paid by March 31, 2022, and the second by December 2, 2022.

Source: Radio Gdańsk, Radio Poland, PAP

Polish striker Robert Lewandowski recently won two Globe Soccer Awards in the United Arab Emirates for his goal-scoring feats this year.

At the awards gala in Dubai on Monday, Lewandowski was voted TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year and became the first recipient of the new “Maradona Award” for Best Goal Scorer of the Year. Lewandowski won the unique award after scoring off a bicycle kick during a Champions League match between Bayern Munich and Dynamo Kyiv.

Other notable winners included Kylian Mbappe of France, who was named Best Men’s Player of the Year; Alexia Putellas of Spain, who won Best Women’s Player of the Year; and Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal, who won Top Goal Scorer of All Time.

Introduced in 2010, the Globe Soccer Awards recognize the world’s best players and clubs, as determined by the Globe Soccer organization in cooperation with the European Club Association (ECA) and the European Football Agents Association (EFAA).

Source: Radio Poland, PAP

Weather

Today will be mostly cloudy and cold, with a good chance of snow throughout the day and winds coming in from the south. Temperatures will peak at a high of 0°C, or 32°F, dropping slightly to an overnight low of -2°C or 28°F. Tomorrow will again be overcast but slightly warmer, with strong winds and a good chance of rain moving into the weekend.

 

Elizabeth Peck/ua