Yesterday’s meeting of EU ambassadors in Brussels ended without resolution after Hungary refused to agree to a proposed EU embargo on Russian oil.
According to the Polish ambassador to the EU, Andrzej Sadoś, „Hungary is unable to approve the Russian oil embargo even though the European Union promised to exempt the country from the ban for many years.”
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba had expressed hopes that EU countries would be able to persuade Hungary to support the oil embargo, noting that not approving it would be too generous a gift for the Kremlin.
Source: Radio Poland, Radio Gdańsk
At a meeting in Slovakia yesterday, Polish president Andrzej Duda promised to advocate for European Union candidate status for neighboring Ukraine in a joint effort with regional ally Slovakia.
Duda made the declaration after meeting his Slovak counterpart Zuzana Čaputová in Bratislava.
Other EU member states, however, have expressed concerns about an expedited membership process for Ukraine. In a speech marking Europe Day on May 9, French President Emmanuel Macron warned that „the process to allow [Ukraine] to join would take several years indeed, probably several decades.”
He went on to advocate for creating a parallel „European political community” that would be open to aspiring member states such as Ukraine and former members such as the UK.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky officially submitted Ukraine’s completed questionnaire for candidate status on April 18, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has stated that „the EU Commission will aim to deliver its opinion [on candidate status] in June.”
Source: Radio Poland, rferl.org
A Polish MP from Elbląg says he has been receiving death threats for the past month due to his support for Ukraine. In an interview on Wednesday, MP Jerzy Wcisła claimed that for „over a month now, we have been receiving e-mails in which senders threaten me, my family, and my employees. The threats are closely related to the help and sympathy we show to Ukraine.”
Wcisła recently returned from a two-day visit to Kyiv, where he joined representatives from 18 countries as part of „United for Ukraine” (U4U), a global network of parliament members.
While in Kyiv, Wcisła and other MPs visited Bucha and Borodyanka and met with Ruslan Stefanchuk, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Following the meetings, participants issued a joint statement, with the first point calling for an „immediate increase in supplies of all necessary weapons to Ukraine.”
According to Wcisła, the death threats he has been receiving are a direct result of these actions. Out of concern for the safety of his family, friends, and colleagues, Wcisła turned the information over to the police, „believing that they will quickly establish the author or authors of these e-mails and they will be brought to trial.”
Poland’s Internal Security Agency has also been informed of the matter.
Read the complete United for Ukraine statement <<<HERE.
Source: Radio Gdańsk, rada.gov.ua
Poland’s world No. 1 Iga Świątek has advanced to the third round of the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome with a straight-set win over Elena-Gabriela Ruse of Romania.
The Polish top seed dominated the 57th-ranked Romanian player 6-3, 6-0 in 68 minutes in the second round of the women’s singles on Wednesday, marking Swiątek’s 24th consecutive victory this season.
Świątek will now face former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus at 13:00 today for a place in the quarterfinals.
Source: Radio Poland, PAP
The Medical University of Gdańsk, or GUM, is organizing a collection of food and hygiene products to transport to Lviv in western Ukraine this weekend.
According to GUM spokesperson Joanna Śliwińska, basic necessities such as sleeping bags, diapers for adults and children, and water treatment tablets are most needed. Food products such as canned food, ready-made meals, pasta, cereals, coffee, and tea are also welcome.
Donations will be accepted until Friday, May 13. Items should be taken to building no. 13 at Ulica Dębinki 7 on the GUM campus between the hours of 9:00 and 15:00.
Source: Radio Gdańsk
Weather
Today will be partly cloudy, with a chance for rain in the morning and a strong breeze coming in from the west. Temperatures will be slightly cooler than yesterday, with a high around 17°C, or 63°F, dropping to an overnight low of 9°C or 49°F. Clearer skies are expected for tomorrow, with a chance for rain returning on Saturday.
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