The Polish government has warned that Russia wants to continue the war in Ukraine, dismissing Moscow’s diplomatic overtures as insincere and aimed at prolonging the conflict rather than ending it. Ignacy Niemczycki, Poland’s Secretary of State for European Affairs, made the remarks in an interview with Euronews, ahead of renewed U.S.-backed peace discussions set to take place in Abu Dhabi.
According to Niemczycki, Russia is not participating in peace negotiations in good faith. While Ukraine has signaled a willingness to explore compromises, he argued that Moscow’s military and political behavior demonstrates the opposite. The Polish position aligns with growing skepticism across parts of Europe that the Kremlin’s endgame involves territorial entrenchment rather than peace.
A major point of concern is Russia’s renewed attacks on critical civilian infrastructure, particularly energy systems in and around Kyiv. Recent strikes have left thousands without power during sub-zero temperatures, with nighttime lows below −20°C. Niemczycki described this as a calculated pressure tactic aimed at civilian endurance rather than battlefield advantage. For Warsaw, these actions confirm that Russia wants to continue the war in Ukraine, leveraging hardship to break Ukrainian resolve.
Peace talks have produced minimal progress. Key issues—including the status of occupied territories like Donetsk and Luhansk—remain deadlocked. U.S. negotiators have attempted to build confidence through phased proposals and security guarantees, but Russia has rejected core elements of those frameworks. The Kremlin continues to demand international recognition of its territorial claims, a condition Ukraine and its Western backers reject outright.
The failure to move negotiations forward has sharpened divisions in Europe. Some EU governments, including Hungary and Austria, advocate increased dialogue with Moscow. Others, notably Poland and the Baltic states, argue that any deal struck under military duress would reward aggression and undermine international law. These differences are creating strategic ambiguity in Europe’s collective response.
Poland’s warning that Russia wants to continue the war in Ukraine also carries defense implications. NATO planners are reassessing force posture in eastern Europe, while national governments weigh additional arms shipments and financial support for Kyiv. The ongoing war continues to disrupt regional stability, with ripple effects on energy markets, refugee flows, and political cohesion within the EU.
Western options remain limited but not static. Proposals under consideration include conditioning future negotiations on verifiable humanitarian de-escalation, launching new sanctions linked to battlefield activity, and expanding military aid with tighter delivery timelines. But for now, Warsaw’s assessment is clear: Russia is not seeking peace—it is seeking time and leverage.
