Poland’s top diplomat Zbigniew Rau joins other EU member state foreign ministers in Brussels to discuss Russia’s war against Ukraine
The Foreign Affairs Council meeting in the Belgian capital focused on „military and political support for Ukraine” as well as „the situation in the Horn of Africa region.” It also included talks with top diplomats from Western Balkan countries.
The meeting participants prioritised discussions on the EU’s off-budget military support for Ukraine known as the European Peace Facility. „Everything seems to be going well, meaning the disbursement of half a billion euros and the admission of another billion – the 8th tranche,” Rau said.
Rau also held security talks with his counterparts from Italy and Ireland, as well as preparations for NATO’s summit on July 11 and 12 with the foreign ministers of the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Today marks day 454 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
(PAP)
Prime Minister Morawiecki visits Gdynia to make statement on grain export crisis
Ensuring the capability to export locally produced grain is crucial for the stability of the agricultural market today, the Prime Minister stated yesterday at the Port of Gdynia. During his speech, Morawiecki pointed out that droughts and floods are prevalent in Western Europe, which causes fear on cereal markets. Poland finds itself in special circumstances due to the solidarity corridors and very large amounts of grain waiting to be exported.
He went on to announce that Poland has now taken care of the grain export logistics so that, on the one hand, farmers can, through a subsidy, transport grain from their silos; and on the other hand, transport grain from Poland so that the warehouses are ready for the upcoming harvest.
He made it clear that in his view, the government were right to provide an interventional role at a time when it needed to be interventionist.
(Radio Gdańsk / PAP)
Polish filmmaker brings Ukrainian refugees’ plight to this year’s Cannes film festival
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has effectively knocked out the country’s film industry, resulting in a starkly diminished presence at the Cannes Film Festival this year. However, the war is still very much part of the Cannes conversation.
Risking mined roads and shelling, a Polish filmmaker ferrying civilians away from the frontlines of Ukraine’s war with Russia is the focus of the new documentary named “In the Rearview”.
Filmed in the initial months of the conflict, director Maciek Hamela captured the intimate moments of people speaking of their experiences of war and evacuation in the back seat of a van. Some passengers sit quietly, dumbstruck. Others recount tales of destruction, torture and death. There are light-hearted moments, too, when they open up to share their hopes and aspirations for the day the war ends.
(France24)
The best referee in the world, Szymon Marciniak will officiate the Champions League final
UEFA has officially announced that Polish referee Szymon Marciniak will referee the biggest game in club football this season. Manchester City and Inter Milan will face off on June 10th in the final of this year’s Champions League.
Last year, Marciniak was the referee for the World Cup final in Qatar, in which Argentina beat France in an epic match. A week ago, he also performed flawlessly in the Champions League semi-final between Manchester City and Real Madrid.
The referee’s assistants will also be Polish officials: Paweł Sokolnicki and Tomasz Listkiewicz. Polish officials will also be responsible for VAR.
(Radio Gdańsk)
The weather
Today will be warm with periods of both cloud cover and sunshine. A very light wind will come in from the south east. Daytime temperatures will see a high of 24°C or 75°F, with expected lows of 13°C or 55°F overnight. Tomorrow will see some light rain showers and slightly lower temperatures. As we progress through the rest of the week, the sunshine should continue but with temperatures dipping by a few degrees.
Thomas Rado
