The head of the Polish MFA Jacek Czaputowicz revealed details of the future cooperation of Warsaw, Kiev and Vilnius in the framework of the newly established platform “Lublin triangle”. In an interview with Polish press Agency, the diplomat made it clear that the goal is not only more effective joint work at the sites of the EU or NATO, but also coordination of the process of “revision of the rules governing relations with Russia.” The Minister assured that Poland, Ukraine and Lithuania will strive to not be “subject to effective blackmail” — and that means, in particular, to try to prevent the construction of the pipeline “Nord stream-2”.”We have created a new platform of cooperation in Lublin (city in Eastern Poland.— “B”), where they could lay flowers to the monument dedicated to the Union of the Kingdom of Poland with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth of 1569-1795 Confederation years, which were mainly located on the territories of modern Poland, Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania.— “Kommersant”). Last year we celebrated the 450th anniversary of the Union,”— said the head of Polish diplomacy Jacek Czaputowicz in an interview with Polish press Agency, commenting on the creation of Warsaw, Kiev and Vilnius Association under the name “Lublin triangle”. According to him, now the voice of the three capitals will be better heard”, not only in Central Europe but on the grounds of the EU or NATO.”Increased interaction with these two structures is not the only purpose of an informal Union, the creation of which was announced on Tuesday, the foreign Ministers of the three countries. According to the document, the framework provides for cooperation of the three countries to achieve the goals of sustainable participation in the development of the Eastern partnership initiative (EU rapprochement with Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine), the deepening of military cooperation and the fight against security threats, including pandemic coronavirus.Most of the text of the Declaration is devoted to issues directly concerning Ukraine. So, the document States that Ministers “with pleasure,” celebrate the granting of Kyiv the status of a partner with enhanced capabilities to NATO, and the action Plan on membership in the Alliance “should be the next step in this direction.” Also encouraged “effective implementation” of the Kiev political and economic reforms.The three paragraphs given to “Russian aggression continues in Ukraine.” “The foreign Ministers declare the immutability of position on the strong condemnation of the attempted annexation by the Russian Federation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and city of Sevastopol,— stated in the Declaration.— They do not recognize and will never recognize the attempt”.To counter the “Russian aggression” only members of the Association, they do not seem. According to the foreign Ministry of Ukraine pabout the results of Ukrainian-Polish negotiations Minister Dmitry Kuleba invited Poland to join the international platform for the de-occupation of Crimea. Its creation is now engaged in the Ukrainian foreign Ministry. The final decision in Warsaw is not yet announced, but, according to the Ukrainian foreign Ministry, “took the initiative positively.” Another topic of discussion within the platform, as stated by Jacek Czaputowicz at a press conference, can become “the fight against Russian disinformation”.So, answering in interview a question on concrete initiatives of the “triangle” Jacek Czaputowicz said: “During the negotiations in Lublin we exchanged information concerning relations with Russia, and agreed to coordinate positions in relation to the current revision of the rules governing the EU’s relations with her.” What specific “rules” will be revised, he said, but immediately after said that close coordination in the field of access to energy sources “is also promising.” “We will strive to ensure that nobody could become subject to effective blackmail,” the Minister said.Apparently, we are talking about trying to block the construction of a gas pipeline from Russia to Turkey “Nord stream-2”. At least, it was directly noted in the press service of the Ukrainian foreign Ministry: “Dmitry Kuleba and Jacek Czaputowicz underlined that the Russian project “Northern stream-2” is a threat to energy security across Europe, and agreed to take further steps to prevent its implementation.”In any case, according to Jacek Czaputowicz, interaction within the platform will be tight. The politician stressed that in the near future the country will appoint responsible for liaising between the ministries. He also added that some negotiations with Ministries in Warsaw, Kiev and Vilnius will not be limited to: “the Initiative will be open to other ministries.”It seems also that the new club will not be closed. “Triangle will focus on deepening cooperation between our countries, but we also see great prospects in that he became the tool to attract those countries that need closer contacts with the West, with pan-European structures. And we with colleagues will help our friends and our neighbors to actively cooperate in this sphere”,— said Dmitry Kuleba. He added: “There is nothing more natural in this part of Europe than the Union of the three Nations: poles, Lithuanians and Ukrainians.”In this context, the reference to Mr. Czaputowicz the Commonwealth looks symbolic: to be a square, triangle lacks only one corner of Belarus.Marina Kovalenko
