European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen accused Russia of using food supplies as a weapon in its war on Ukraine during comments made yesterday at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
„In Russian-occupied Ukraine,” she explained, „the Kremlin’s army is confiscating grain stocks and machinery,” while „Russian warships in the Black Sea are blockading Ukrainian ships full of wheat and sunflower seeds” to prevent Ukraine from exporting its grain to international markets.
Polish President Andrzej Duda later warned that the ongoing war in Ukraine could cause food shortages in North Africa, which could potentially be the catalyst for a „huge migration problem” for Spain and southern Europe.
Russian officials, including former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, have repeatedly stated that the West must ease sanctions on Russia before the country would allow shipments of grain and fertilizer to transit through occupied Black Sea ports.
According to recent estimates published in the Guardian, Ukraine and Russia account for 30% of the world’s wheat supply and nearly 70% of the world’s sunflower oil.
Source: Radio Poland, PAP, guardian.com
Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak announced plans yesterday to acquire six more batteries of the US-made Patriot anti-ballistic missile defense system as the war in Ukraine drags into its fourth month.
Błaszczak announced the launch of „phase two of the Wisła air defense program” while attending the „Defence24 Day” security conference in Warsaw yesterday. According to him, the Patriot batteries will include „radars, launchers and a supply of rockets.” He added that Poland would also receive training and logistics support.
Phase one of Poland’s Wisła mid-range air defense program was launched in 2018 and includes the delivery of two Patriot batteries this year.
Source: Radio Poland, PAP
The Polish government has announced a new set of policies designed to support those seeking refuge in Poland due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The new policies include the creation of childcare clubs for refugee children aged 3 to 5, public provision of Polish-language courses for refugees, and streamlined employment rules.
Deputy Interior Minister Paweł Szefernaker, the government’s commissioner for refugees, said the new measures targeted those planning to stay in Poland for the long term. As he later explained, „learning Polish” is „the most important step towards starting employment in Poland,” while childcare clubs for refugee children „will allow mothers to go to work.”
According to officials, more than 1.1 million refugees from Ukraine have received PESEL (personal identification) numbers. Of this number, 160,000 out of a potential 460,000 refugees of working age have already taken jobs in Poland.
Poland has thus far welcomed 3.57 million refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine.
Source: Radio Poland, PAP
Polish tennis star Hubert Hurkacz advanced to the second round of the French Open tennis tournament after defeating Giulio Zeppiere of Italy 7-5, 6-2, 7-5 yesterday.
Hurkacz, who is currently ranked world no 13, will face another Italian, Marco Cecchinato, in the second round tomorrow.
Fellow Pole Iga Świątek will face her second-round opponent, Alison Riske of the United States, tomorrow as well, while Magda Linette will face off against Italian Martina Trevisan today at 16:15.
Source: PAP, wtatennis.com
Polish star striker Robert Lewandowski has been named the top scorer in Europe’s biggest football leagues, after scoring 35 goals this season for Germany’s Bayern Munich club.
The Polish marksman won the annual European Golden Shoe award for the second time in a row, finishing well ahead of fellow top scorers Kylian Mbappe (28) Ciro Immobile (27), and Karim Benzema (27).
Earlier this month, Lewandowski was crowned the top scorer of Germany’s Bundesliga premier league for the 2021/2022 season, his seventh such trophy since he began playing in Germany in 2010.
Source: Radio Poland
Weather
Today will be mostly cloudy and cool, with a good chance for rain in the afternoon and a gentle breeze coming in from the north. Temperatures will peak around a high of 17°C, or 63°F, dropping to an overnight low of 9°C or 49°F. Similar weather is expected for tomorrow, with a chance for rain showers continuing throughout the week.
Posłuchaj:
Elizabeth Peck/MarWer
