Polish President Andrzej Duda presented Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with the Order of the White Eagle on Wednesday, calling him “a model leader of a state and a nation.”

Poland’s highest state distinction was awarded to Zelensky for “services to deepening relations between Poland and Ukraine, for efforts to ensure security, and for an unwavering commitment to defending human rights.”

Following a day of meetings with Polish officials and volunteers, the two leaders ended Zelensky’s historic one-day state visit to Poland with a joint address in the courtyard of the Royal Castle in Warsaw.

In his remarks, President Duda applauded the Polish people for helping Ukraine and its people in the face of Russia’s brutal assault while praising Ukrainians for “fighting not just for your independence, but also for the security of the whole of Europe.”

Echoing Duda’s comments, Zelensky said he was “grateful for this brotherhood to every Pole, “ claiming “Russia cannot win in Europe when a Ukrainian and a Pole stand side by side.”

Source: Polskie Radio

The United States announced a new USD 2.6 billion arms package for Ukraine’s defense against Russia earlier this week, bringing the total estimated security aid to over 35 billion USD.

According to a statement by the US Department of Defense, the new security assistance package includes ammunition for US-provided High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), air defense interceptors, and defensive artillery rounds, as well as anti-armor systems, small arms, heavy equipment transport vehicles, and maintenance support “essential to strengthening Ukraine’s defenders on the battlefield.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked US President Joe Biden for the new defense aid package in a post on social media, stressing the value Ukraine places on “the unflagging support of the US president and the American people.”

Source: Polskie Radio, PAP

Polish defense minister Mariusz Błaszczak was in western Poland yesterday to cut the ribbon on the expansion of a US Army base in Powidz.

The newly-built NATO Long-Term Equipment Storage and Maintenance Complex (LTESM-C) in Powidz will reportedly house several thousand pieces of military hardware, including tanks, technical-support vehicles, infantry fighting vehicles, and artillery systems.

Thanks to the new facility, allied troops arriving in Poland on support missions will be issued the necessary equipment in the space of days rather than weeks, according to the Polish Press Agency (PAP).

Błaszczak pointed to Poland’s relationship with the United States and membership in NATO as “the pillars of our homeland’s security,” saying the military complex “will strengthen the security of Poland and the whole eastern flank of NATO.”

US Ambassador to Warsaw Mark Brzezinski, who was also in attendance at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, noted that the new equipment storage facility at Powidz represented NATO’s largest investment in infrastructure in 30 years, calling it “a historic moment” and a signal that “Poland is safe and secure.”

Source: Polskie Radio

The Gdańsk University of Technology has been named one of the top 550 universities in the world for mechanical engineering by the academic portal Research.com.

Politechnika joined five other universities from Poland in the prestigious world ranking, which takes into account the achievements of research centers and their faculty in the field of mechanical engineering.

The Łódź University of Technology ranked number 237, the highest among the six Polish universities listed, followed by the Lublin University of Technology, Opole University of Technology, Białystok University of Technology, AGH in Kraków, and the Gdańsk University of Technology at number 529.

The Gdańsk University of Technology was recently ranked 4th among Polish universities in the “Engineering & Technology” subject area and in the top 400 universities worldwide for studies in “Engineering – Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing” according to the 2023 QS World University Rankings by Subject.

Source: PAP, pg.edu.pl

Listeners have a few more chances to win collectible sports memorabilia and support local hospices in Pomerania by participating in the daily auction from Radio Gdańsk.

More unique souvenirs will be available today and tomorrow, including a basketball with the signatures of Trefl Sopot basketball players and ski jumping champion Kamil Stoch’s favorite hat, along with an autographed bag.

Due to the kindness of a previous winner, one lucky bidder will have another chance on Saturday to win an autographed football jersey worn by Robert Lewandowski in his first season with BVB Borussia Dortmund in Germany.

Auctions will be held on air during the “Tak Gramy” broadcast between 10:00 and 11:00 each morning. Listeners can participate by sending an SMS with their name and bid to 603 06 06 06, with winning bids announced on air.

Source: Radio Gdańsk

Weather

Today will be mostly cloudy with a chance for some rain in the late evening and a light breeze from the north. Temperatures will remain on the chilly side, with a daytime high of 4°C or 40°F dropping to a low of -2°C or 29°F overnight. Slightly warmer weather is expected tomorrow, with an increasing chance of rain showers in the early morning and late evening.

Elizabeth Peck