Washington, Oct 2026 : The Russia-Ukraine war cannot be brought to an end without Ukraine’s participation, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said, asserting that both Kyiv and European countries retain significant influence over any potential peace settlement.
Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the G20 meeting, Sikorski said a “solution by outside factors” was “simply not doable”. He was responding to a question about whether a proposed meeting involving the United States, China and Russia to discuss ending the war had been raised.
“No, it wasn’t,” he said.
Asked about the participation of Ukraine and its European partners in peace efforts, Sikorski pointed to Ukraine’s continued resistance and Europe’s role in supporting its defence. He said the full-scale war was now in its fifth year, while Russia’s campaign to conquer the Donbas region had entered its 13th year.
The Polish foreign minister said Europe had several means of influencing the conflict, including frozen Russian assets, financial assistance to Ukraine and purchases of American weapons, military equipment and ammunition for Kyiv.
“Europe also has cards,” Sikorski said, adding that repeated criticism of European governments by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov indicated that Moscow recognised Europe’s continuing influence.
Europe Urged to Sustain Support for Ukraine
Responding to concerns that Western pressure could push Ukraine towards an unfavourable peace agreement, Sikorski said Russia’s offensive had come at a heavy cost in troops and that Ukraine had recovered territory.
“And we need to stay the course,” he said.
Sikorski said the United States had stopped providing financial support to Ukraine, leaving European countries to finance its war effort. He warned that Russia was counting on further mobilisation and the onset of winter.
According to the minister, sustaining Ukraine through the winter would be the best response to Moscow’s strategy, and Europe was already working to provide the necessary support.
Energy Trade and Sanctions
Sikorski also linked Russia’s potential return to the European energy market to a fair resolution of its war against Ukraine.
He said Europe had once been Russia’s most lucrative energy market, but most European countries had sharply reduced their purchases, imposing an economic cost on Moscow for continuing the conflict.
Russia was now selling energy to other markets at steep discounts, he said. Poland did not want to become dependent on energy supplies from a country that had invaded its neighbours.
Asked whether the United States had pressured European countries over sanctions against Russia, Sikorski replied: “No, it didn’t pressure us.”
The minister also welcomed plans to establish a centre in Poland for servicing Patriot missiles, saying Lockheed Martin had announced the project.
Poland Raises Concerns Over Russian Hybrid Activities
Sikorski accused Russia of conducting a hybrid campaign across Europe, alleging that such activities had resulted in deaths, including in Poland.
He claimed Russian armed drones had flown over NATO territory and that a Russian cruise missile had exploded around 100 kilometres inside Poland. He also accused Russia of sending armed drones intended for use against a civilian airport in Germany and 21 decoys into Polish airspace.
Describing the incidents as “highly provocative and dangerous acts”, Sikorski said hybrid warfare involved physical attacks below the threshold of a conventional invasion and extended beyond activity on the internet.
“We are not going to do what they do,” he said, rejecting retaliation through assassinations or arson and reiterating the need to continue supporting Ukraine.
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The European Union expanded sanctions first imposed after Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, targeting sectors including finance, energy and trade.
