At a critical energy summit in Copenhagen yesterday, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki called on Europe to “change its mechanism for shaping energy prices” in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The Baltic Energy Security Summit in Copenhagen featured the heads of state of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Denmark, and Finland, as well as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Speaking to reporters afterward, the Polish Prime Minister stressed that “there is no real energy transformation without energy security,” accusing Russia of “waging an energy and gas war for years.”
According to Morawiecki, when it comes to shaping energy prices in Europe, there is an urgent need for short-term solutions, as “right now, we need a stable supply of electricity, affordable electricity prices, and a secure energy system.”
Morawiecki specifically called on the EU to temporarily suspend its current emissions-trading scheme (ETS) “for a year or two” so that electricity prices can be lowered for households and businesses.
The ETS system could be relaunched later, he stated, “when we secure energy for all of Europe and bring back peace to Ukraine.”
Source: Radio Poland
Ukraine’s new offensive operations in the south will be a test for Russia’s reinforced defenses in the area around Kherson, according to the latest UK Defence Intelligence update.
UK analysts reported via Twitter on Tuesday that “early on 29 August 2022, several brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces increased the weight of artillery fires in front line sectors across southern Ukraine.”
The UK Ministry of Defence added that “Ukrainian long-range precision strikes continue to disrupt Russian resupply,” noting that “it is not yet possible to confirm the extent of Ukrainian advances.”
Meanwhile, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a US think tank, wrote on Monday night that “Russian and Western sources claim that Ukrainian forces liberated five settlements during the first day of the counteroffensive.”
ISW analysts went on to note that “Ukrainian sources have not announced the liberation of any settlements at the time of this publication.”
Source: Radio Poland, PAP
Bells and sirens will sound at 4:45 am tomorrow morning to commemorate the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany on September 1, 1939.
The pre-dawn assault on the Polish military depot in Westerplatte 83 years ago marked the official beginning of WWII, one of the most horrific and deadly chapters in modern European history.
Commemorative events will be held at various locations around Trójmiasto, including a ceremony at noon followed by a Holy Mass at 13:30 in the square for the Defenders of the Polish Post Office and the traditional laying of wreaths accompanied by music from the Cappella Gedanensis choir at 17:00 in the WWII cemetery in Zaspa.
The events will be broadcast live on the city of Gdańsk website at www.gdansk.pl.
Public transportation to the Westerplatte memorial is free tomorrow, and Radio Gdańsk on DAB2 will broadcast the epic story of Westerplatte following the regular news broadcast at 10:00.
Source: Radio Gdańsk, gdansk.pl
Weather
Today will start out partly cloudy and cool, with a slight chance of rain in the morning and a light breeze coming in from the north. Skies will continue to clear as the day progresses, with a chance for rain returning overnight. Temperatures will peak around a high of 19°C, or 67°F, dropping to an overnight low of 13°C or 56°F. Cooler, wet weather is expected for tomorrow, with a chance for some sun and warmer temps returning over the weekend.
Elizabeth Peck
