“In contrast to the events that took place 100 years ago in Europe, the frontline of fighting against aggressive Russia lies no more along the Vistula but in eastern Ukraine,” said Poland’s Ambassador to Ukraine Jan PIEKLO who visited the Den/The Day editorial office the other day. Editor-in-chief Larysa Ivshyna acquainted the guest with Den’s projects and told him the history of the Den Library which comprises Wars and Peace, or Ukrainians and Poles: Brothers/ Enemies, Neighbors, a book on Polish-Ukrainian relations also published in the Polish language. The ambassador received a gift from the editor-in-chief – the book Ukraine Incognita. TOP 25 in English.
He noted that, in the eve of World War Two, the leading Western powers and politicians pursued the policy of appeasing Hitler. He therefore believes that there are also attempts in today’s Europe to repeat this extremely dangerous policy.
Asked about the complicated historical problems of Ukraine and Poland, the guest emphasized that the past must bring together rather than take apart our peoples. This is the main thing, while specific issues should be given to Ukrainian and Polish historians for consideration. He also added that it is important to build a positive space of mutual understanding between our peoples, which would work for the future.
Mr. Pieklo also said that, in spite of marginal groups’ attempts to spoil relations between our countries (which Putin’s propaganda is taking advantage of), the two states are actively cooperating. For example, Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo is going to visit Kyiv and the Presidential Committee will meet in Ukraine in the near future.
The ambassador also said that cultural cooperation between our countries was playing a tremendous role in building “bridges” to the future and gave a recipe of how our countries can and must understand more deeply the culture of each other.
Read about this and many other interesting things in The Day’s next issues.
