Polish premier accuses Russia of continuing its ‘colonial policy with its aggressive behavior’

WARSAW

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki on Tuesday accused Russia of continuing its “colonial policy with its aggressive behavior,” saying those who violate international law should be excluded from the global community.

“It’s a colonial empire… There can be no consent to breaking international law,” Morawiecki said at a press conference in Brussels, Belgium’s capital.

“Those who break international law should be excluded from the international community,” he added.

Warsaw has long taken a hard line against Russian President Vladimir Putin and historically relations between the two countries have been difficult. Poland wants more EU sanctions against Russian companies and individuals and is a leading source of arms for Ukraine.

Following Russia’s recent announcement that it would not renew the agreement for the transport of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea, raising fears that grain from Ukraine will once again be shipped in large quantities to Poland, Morawiecki said the government will “firmly defend the interests of Polish farmers.”

The Polish government will extend the restrictions on the inflow of Ukrainian grain into Poland after the regulations limiting this inflow expire in mid-September, the premier said.

“We are afraid that if they (regulations) are completely lifted, the Polish market may be flooded with grain again, so we will take appropriate action then,” Morawiecki said on Tuesday.

However, he did not say what such actions would be but said negotiations with the European Commission on the issue were ongoing.

• Mateusz Morawiecki