Polish PM reassures that NATO member Poland is safe
Polish President Andrzej Duda has reassured the nation after speaking for an hour to the US President Joe Biden. Speaking after the call, the PM said „We are part of NATO and the entire Atlantic Alliance stands firmly behind us”. The President also recalled Article 5 of the NATO Treaty which guarantees collective defence by stating that an armed attack against one NATO member state „shall be considered an attack against them all” and that member states will respond with „the use of armed force, to restore and maintain…security”. Reiterating that „Poland’s security is guaranteed,” Duda appealed to Poles „to continue helping” refugees from war-torn Ukraine.
Source – Polskie Radio
US Vice President Kamala Harris to visit Warsaw
The US Vice President Kamala Harris will visit Warsaw next week for talks with Polish leaders about Russia’s war against Ukraine and collective efforts to support the people of Ukraine, the White House announced on Friday. The vice president is due to travel to Warsaw on March 9th and then on to the Romanian capital Bucharest. Earlier this week, Harris discussed the West’s collective response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine during a call with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. Earlier this week the Vice President looked on uncomfortably as US President Biden mixed up Ukraine and Iran during his State of the Union speech when he said, „Putin may circle Kyiv with tanks, but he will never gain the hearts and souls of the Iranian people”.
Source – Polskie Radio, NY Post
Polish foundation helps Ukrainian children
A Polish foundation called Happy Kids says it has brought more than 1,000 children from Ukrainian orphanages to Poland since Russia invaded Ukraine more than a week ago. Recently the foundation has brought children to its accommodation buildings in the north-eastern Polish city of Białystok and to the central Polish city of Łódź where the foundation is based. Closer to home, the Gdańsk based „Ja Też” foundation which helps children and families of children with Down Syndrome, is co-ordinating efforts to help affected families to get safely to Poland and arrange them accommodation, further support and information.
Source – Polskie Radio
Refugee reception centre set up in Sopot
And finally, A three-story building in the centre of Sopot has been converted for the needs of refugees from the war in Ukraine. Sopot City Hall said that the „Ukrainian Support Centre” as it will be known, which is located in the centre of Sopot is entirely dedicated to the needs of refugees. The facility has a reception, other rooms, a store for clothes, cosmetics and hygiene products, and food. There is also a common room, a playground for children, rooms for talking to psychologists or silence, as well as an internet café so that people can get in touch with their families. The centre is open 24 hours a day, and can be contacted on the number 505 146 642. The centre is looking for volunteers, especially Ukrainian and Russian speakers.
Source – Radio Gdańsk
Weather
Today will be a sunny day with scattered clouds in a light breeze and temperatures of 1 degrees centigrade (34 degrees Fahrenheit) during the day and -5 degrees overnight. Tomorrow will see continued sunny spells in a gentle breeze with temperatures of 3 degree during the day and -2 degrees overnight.
That was the Radio Gdańsk English news and weather.
Martin Caren/aKa
