US President Joe Biden’s historic visit to Poland continues into day two.

Andrzej Duda welcomed the President yesterday at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw to mark the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Later in the afternoon in the gardens of the Royal Castle, Joe Biden delivered his eagerly awaited speech to cheering crowds whilst broadcast around the world. “We have to have security in Europe,” he said. “It’s that basic, that simple, that consequential.”

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said he thinks Biden’s address will have been regarded as “far more significant and consequential” than the state of the nation address Russian President Vladimir Putin also gave yesterday, to the Federal Assembly in Moscow.

Today the summit of the Bucharest Nine will take place: a congregation of leaders from NATO’s eastern flank: Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary. President Biden and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will also participate in the meetings.

During the summit, leaders are expected to discuss further strengthening of NATO’s eastern flank, the forthcoming Vilnius Summit, and further support for Ukraine.

(PAP / Radio Gdańsk)

Call for help for the victims of the recent residential fire in Sopot. A collection is underway.

The city of Sopot is trying to help victims who lost their livelihoods in the tenement house fire on Andersa street last Friday night. The families affected have so far received 5,000 zloty each, and 3,000 zloty for people living alone.

The deputy mayor of Sopot Magdalena Czarzyńska-Jachim said that fundraising had started for basic necessities for these families. She went on to say that ‘’the biggest challenge would be to provide housing for them. We encourage everyone who can, to donate. Any amount helps, however small.”

Account number to make donations to help those affected by the fire:
95 1020 1811 0000 0702 0373 5347
Help desks that have already been launched are:
• MOPS Sopot Crisis Intervention Point, al. Niepodległości 876 is open from 8.00 to 19.00.
• Special 24/7 telephone number – MOPS social support – tel. 515 915 982
• 24-hour clothing store in Student Dormitory No. 8 at 1 Maja 12 Street

(Radio Gdansk)

Beaches will be closed in Gdańsk today for bomb disposal operations.

All of today until 4pm, operations will be carried out to remove, transport and dispose of aerial bombs from the Second World War by a specialized Navy unit. Beaches in Gdańsk will be closed along the coastline stretching from the Ptasi Raj – entrance 18 at the eastern end of the bay, to the most Western point, entrance 53 at Brzeźno pier. There will also be an absolute ban on entering the water during this time.
In connection with this, Kontenerowa Street from the Sucharski junction, as well as Budowniczych Portu Północnego Street will be closed to the public all day.

(Radio Gdansk / UMG)

Success for Pomeranian teenager and the Poland national team at International sailing regatta.

Thirteen-year-old Bartosz Żmudziński from the Chojnice Sailing Club has won bronze in the 31st International Palamos Optimist Trophy regatta held over recent days off the coast of the Spanish Costa Brava. The event which is the second largest of its type in the world, comprised of 542 competitors including a sixteen-strong Polish national team under the stewardship of coaches Adam Paszek, Karol Jączkowski and Bogdan Dziekanski. The white-and-reds were ranked second among twenty one countries represented in the Nations Cup classification.
The Optimist class is a small, single-handed dinghy intended for use by under 16s. It is one of the two most popular sailing dinghies in the world. As for the competition itself; over the four days of regatta, nine races were held. Due to the very high number of competitors this time around, the fleet was divided into five groups, over 100 boats racing in each.

(Radio Gdansk / Polski Związek Żeglarski)

The weather

Today will be noticeably colder than yesterday but similarly overcast, with a gentle breeze coming in from the east. Daytime temperatures will see a high of 4°C or 39°F, with expected lows of -2°C or 28°F overnight. A good chance of light showers accompanying today’s cloud and wind conditions are expected tomorrow and the same as we move into Friday.

Thomas Rado