Sikorski to deliver blunt message to Lavrov at US G20 meeting
The Polish foreign minister plans to repeat his demand for a ceasefire and urge Russia to follow diplomatic norms during the two-day session in Georgia.
By Bianca Herrera ·
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski announced he will deliver a direct message to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at the upcoming G20 ministerial meeting. Sikorski stated he intends to repeat the words he previously told Lavrov at a United Nations Security Council meeting.
Sikorski quoted his planned message to Lavrov: "Sergei, tell your boss enough is enough. It's time to put an end to this. Five years of this bloody war, it has to stop." He framed the interaction as necessary to force Russia to adhere to the standards of international organizations.
When asked about an invitation to meet with Lavrov, Sikorski described the situation as awkward. He said Poland wants Russia to act like a proper member of the clubs it joins. "If you are a member of a club, you must behave like a gentleman, and some, unfortunately, do not know how to do that," he said.
The two-day ministerial meeting is scheduled to take place in the US state of Georgia. Officials say the agenda will focus on freedom of shipping, access to food, and energy issues. Sikorski said Poland has specific positions on all three topics.
He noted that the safety of shipping in the Baltic Sea is a priority for Poland. He also pointed to critical infrastructure on the seabed of the Baltic Sea. Furthermore, he argued that the failure of grain from Ukraine and Europe to reach Egypt and other countries is a reason to stop Russian aggression.
Lavrov has arrived in the United States to participate in the G20 ministerial session. This gathering precedes the G20 leaders' summit planned for Miami in December. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to that December summit on September 23.
The Kremlin responded to the invitation by saying Russia appreciates the offer. The Russian government promised to decide on Putin's participation later. On October 17, President Donald Trump told reporters he did not know if Putin would attend the Miami summit.
