US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron presented a united front supporting Ukraine during their recent meeting in Washington, DC.

Blinken described the US and UK as “in lockstep” regarding their approach to the war in Europe, praising the UK for being the second-largest individual contributor of military assistance to Ukraine after the US.

In his remarks, Cameron urged US lawmakers to pass the most recent Ukraine aid package, telling US broadcaster CNN that the US is “the lynchpin” of the Western coalition backing Ukraine’s fight against Russia. Billions of dollars in aid for Ukraine are currently being blocked by Republicans in the US Senate as part of negotiations on border security.

During their meeting, Cameron and Blinken also spoke out on the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Blinken, who recently warned Israeli authorities that the operation in the southern Gaza Strip “cannot look like it does in the north,” acknowledged that there is still a “gap” between Israel’s intentions to protect civilians and the reality on the ground.

Source: Polskie Radio, AP, state.gov

Poland is set to receive more than EUR 5 billion in funding to support its energy transition as part of the post-pandemic recovery and resilience plan, following approval from EU finance ministers yesterday.

According to reports from the Associated Press, the funds are part of the bloc’s REPowerEU program aimed at helping EU member states recover from the energy crisis that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year.

The money will reportedly be used to develop energy networks in rural areas and create new energy storage and transmission facilities, among other projects, to reduce the EU’s dependence on fossil fuels from Russia.

Source: Polskie Radio

Polish opposition leader Donald Tusk, the current candidate for prime minister by the Civic Coalition, Third Way, and Left coalitions, unveiled his lineup of potential Cabinet ministers after a meeting in Warsaw yesterday.

Tusk, a former Polish prime minister and top EU official, told reporters that leaders of the Trzecia Droga and Lewica parties would become deputy prime ministers in his proposed Cabinet.

Tusk will have a chance to present his ministerial choices if Mateusz Morawiecki’s proposed Cabinet fails to secure a vote of confidence from MPs on Monday and Tusk is elected prime minister by a majority of the Sejm.

While describing the importance of “every hour” as justification for convening Friday’s meeting of potential ministers, Tusk emphasized that “everything is in the hands of Providence, the President, and the Sejm.”

Source: Radio Gdańsk, Polskie Radio

After a disappointing loss to Germany earlier this week, the Polish women’s handball team defeated Serbia 22-21 in the fourth match of the 2023 IHF Women’s World Championship.

Thursday’s win in the Danish city of Herning marked Poland’s first victory in the main round of the tournament as the team sets its sights on securing a spot in the quarterfinals.

The Polish team is set to face Denmark tonight at 20:30 CET, followed by a match against Romania on Monday.

Source: Polskie Radio, ihf.info

Local police are investigating the theft of two metal flamingo sculptures that were part of a public art installation in Park de Gaulle in Gdańsk Wrzeszcz.

The theft of the two sculptures, part of a set of five, is thought to have occurred on the night of November 29th. Police are currently investigating the case and assessing the amount of damages.

The sculptures and “tasteful” accompanying fountain, visible from the Klonowa tram stop on Aleja Grunwaldzka, were unveiled in 2007 and have graced the entrance to the park ever since.

Gdańskie Wody is asking anyone with information about the theft of the sculptures to contact them by phone at ️58 32-33-400 or 501-284-053 or email to sekretariat@gdanskiewody.pl. They have also asked owners and employees of local scrapyards to pay special attention to unusual metal deliveries.

Source: Radio Gdańsk, gzdiz.gda.pl

Weather

Today will be mostly overcast and cold, with a slight chance for snow flurries and a light breeze coming in from the southeast. Temperatures will stay below freezing with a high of -1°C, or 31°F, dropping slightly overnight to a low of -2°C or 29°F. Similar weather is expected tomorrow, with a chance for some snow tomorrow afternoon.

Elizabeth Peck/kł