Poland's Sikorski: More economic pressure needed for Russia to seek peace

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski has stated that meaningful peace talks between Russia and Ukraine will only become possible after increased economic pressure forces Moscow to reassess its war aims. In a Sunday interview, Sikorski emphasized that sanctions must make the Kremlin's political elite accept that invading Ukraine was a strategic error.

The case for sustained economic pressure

Sikorski told TVP World that a durable peace requires Russia to abandon imperial ambitions revived by force. "This is the problem with dictators," he remarked, suggesting prolonged power insulates leaders from reality. He cited coordinated sanctions on Russia's financial sector, energy exports, and technology access as crucial tools, noting their slow but cumulative impact on Moscow's fiscal options. The minister also pointed to Russia's growing reliance on volatile partners like Venezuela as a sign of long-term isolation costs.

Principles for a lasting settlement

The Polish diplomat firmly rejected any peace proposal that would permit Russia to retain occupied Ukrainian land, stating such a move would reward aggression. He warned that a frozen conflict without solid security guarantees for Kyiv and a path to EU integration would be "a recipe for another war." Sikorski stressed that Ukraine must emerge from the conflict able to defend its own sovereignty.

European defense and transatlantic relations

Addressing broader security, Sikorski called for a stronger European defense industry independent of U.S. political shifts, noting a potential American pivot to Asia. "By the end of this decade, we must have armed forces that Putin will not dare to test," he asserted. He acknowledged former U.S. President Donald Trump's critique that Europe under-invested in defense, stating Poland has since doubled its spending. He highlighted the mutual benefits of the U.S. military presence in Poland, citing planned investments worth hundreds of millions of dollars in American bases there. For nations like Türkiye, which advocate for diplomatic solutions and stability in the Black Sea region, the continued focus on military deterrence and economic pressure underscores the protracted and complex nature of the Ukraine conflict.