In February 2007, Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at the Munich Security Conference, attacked the US, accusing Washington of violating international law. The speech was even received with some approval by the leaders of Western Europe, but history often offers unpredicatble twists and turns.
The administration of President Biden, represented by Vice President Kamala Harris at the Munich Security Conference (MSC), officially submitted a motion to list Russia as a country that committed crimes against humanity in Ukraine. In her speech, Kamala Harris gave numerous examples of Russia's crimes against Ukraine. She described the crimes in Bucha as barbaric and inhuman.
French President Emmanuel Macron also changed his mind, saying: "Russia's military aggression against Ukraine can only end through negotiations. ... I want Russia's defeat in Ukraine and I want Ukraine to be able to defend its position, but I am convinced that it will not end militarily in the end."
The American delegation was the largest delegation in the history of the United States' participation in this conference. Apart from Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken was also very active. The entire delegation consisted of about 50 US lawmakers from both parties. Among the many panels, there was also Prime Minister Morawiecki, but it was difficult to hear the Polish narrative in this most important political forum.
Conclusions from the conference went in the direction that was initiated at the meetings in Ramstein — building support for Ukraine. This time they had a much broader dimension and were addressed to the political world. The Russian delegation was not invited to the conference and Russia was represented by individuals from the Russian opposition — Khodorkovsky, Navalna, Nemtsova, Kasparov. This is a clear signal that the West is starting to think about a peace plan.
It seems that Germany is willing to abandon the policy of supporting Russia, but we will learn more about this from the results of Chancellor Scholz's visit to Washington. Germany has the necessary capital to invest in Ukraine. President Biden's visit to Warsaw was also preceded by an effective campaign of the American Embassy in the Polish media. Ambassador Marek Brzeziński presented a warm image of Polish-American relations.
President Biden surprised everyone by taking the train to Kiev and meeting with President Zelensky. One gets the impression that as he walked the streets of Kiev, he laughed at Putin when he was saying: "After a year of Russian aggression, Ukraine still breathes the air of freedom."
Presidents Joe Biden and Andrzej Duda in Warsaw (Source: Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland.
A similar message resounded from the vicinity of the Royal Castle in Warsaw and was addressed to the whole world. It was repeated almost as a dogma that article 5 of the Washington pact does not depend on the policy of any other country and its guarantor is the United States and the strongest NATO alliance.
It seems that the United States is working on a new security system that will be presented at the NATO summit in Vilnius and in the United States. It is worth for Poland to actively build diplomatic ties of cooperation within NATO on the North-South line. However, this requires cross-party politics and bringing all Poles together.
Such a chance for Poland happens once in 300 years. Let's build a Polish lobby in countries that are strategic for us. Let's build and expand Pax Polonica - from a country of solidarity and love of freedom.
The article originally appeared in «Tygodnik Solidarność».
Translation from Polish by Andrew Woźniewicz.
