Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki met with US Vice President Kamala Harris in Washington, DC, yesterday to discuss support for Ukraine and bilateral cooperation in business, security, and energy projects.
At a joint media appearance at the White House, Morawiecki thanked Harris for a „warm welcome, highlighting the friendship between the US and Poland and calling the two nations the two poles of Western civilization.” „There are no more freedom-loving nations than Poles and Americans,” Morawiecki proclaimed, and „now Poland and the United States are standing united in defense of the freedom of the Ukrainian nation.”
In addition to continued support for Ukraine, the two leaders reportedly discussed the importance of American businesses and investors, energy projects, and the American defense industry on the territory of the Republic of Poland.
Morawiecki emphasized that, in his opinion, the presence of American soldiers, bases, and businesses serve as „an element of our security,” later describing close relations between Poland and the US as „the best vaccine against Russian imperialism.”
The meeting with Harris marked the beginning of Morawiecki’s three-day visit to the United States. He is also scheduled to meet with US defense industry executives and participate in debates at the International Monetary Fund and the Atlantic Council, a Washington-based think tank.
Source: Radio Gdańsk, Polskie Radio
An unspecified number of US F-22 Raptor fighter jets recently arrived from the US to Poland to help secure the skies over NATO’s eastern flank. The Polish Ministry of Defense confirmed the arrival of the jets in a tweet on Tuesday, describing them as „one of the world’s most modern aircraft,” which will „work alongside Polish pilots” to secure the skies over Poland and NATO’s eastern flank.
The US Air Force said in a statement last week that F-22 Raptors from Langley Air Force Base in Virginia would now provide „deterrence operations” at Powidz Air Base in western Poland „as part of a scheduled aircraft rotation” in support of a US „forward fighter presence” along NATO’s eastern flank.
F-22 were previously stationed in Poland last year as part of NATO’s enhanced air presence amidst Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Today is day 413 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Source: Polskie Radio
The Polish Fencing Association (PZS) has refused to hold a planned Olympic qualifying event for women’s foil after the sport’s global authorities allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete.
The association announced the cancellation of the World Cup event in a statement last week. The competition had been scheduled to take place from April 21 to 23 in Poznań.
Following last month’s decision by the International Olympic Committee, the International Fencing Federation (FIE) voted to allow Russian and Belarusian fencers to return to competition from mid-April „as neutral athletes without national symbols,” according to reports by the Associated Press.
Poland’s PZS had asked Russian and Belarusian fencers to submit written statements declaring that they did not support the war in Ukraine, had „no ties to the regime of Russian President Vladimir Putin,” and did not serve in, or work for, Russia’s army and security services, Eurosport reported.
FIE guidelines released last week did not allow for Russian and Belarusian athletes to be properly vetted beforehand, a move Poland’s Sports Minister Kamil Bortniczuk called „unacceptable” and the reason Polish organizers decided not to host the event.
This summer, Poland is set to host the 2023 European Games, a multi-sport event similar to the Olympics, with no Russian and Belarusian athletes allowed in the competition.
Source: Polskie Radio
The creators of „community refrigerators” in Pomerania are urging residents to donate edible food and leftovers to those in need, particularly after the holiday season.
Food for donation should be suitable for consumption, with a date of preparation written on the lid of the package. According to local politician Przemysław Malak, anyone in need can pick up food items from the refrigerators, stressing that there was a „great need” for this service among people experiencing poverty or homelessness.
Nearly three years ago, Malak was one of the co-initiators of the „Jadłodzielnica” project operating at the parish of Divine Mercy at ul. Myśliwska in Piecki-Migowo. „It is worth sharing what we do not eat ourselves,” he explains, such as „cakes, salads, bread, and Easter eggs” from the holidays.
Similar „community fridges” can also be found at the church of St. Mikołaj in the center of Gdańsk, in Wrzeszcz near the parish of the Holy Cross, and in Oliwa near the seat of the district council.
Source: Radio Gdańsk
Weather
Today will be mostly cloudy with a slight chance of rain and a very light breeze coming from the east. Temperatures will be similar to yesterday, with a daytime high of 10°C or 50°F dropping to a low of 5°C or 41°F overnight. Slightly warmer weather is expected tomorrow, with a chance for rain showers returning later in the week.
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Elizabeth Peck/MarWer
