At the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting in Atlanta, Polish diplomacy chief Radosław Sikorski publicly criticized the approach reportedly promoted by Washington toward some NATO allies. According to Reuters, cited by RBC-Ukraine, US officials have approached several alliance members in recent weeks—primarily the Baltic states—asking them to soften public statements about the threat from Russia. Speaking on the sidelines of the summit, Sikorski stated his categorical disagreement with this course and cited fresh frontline events as an argument.
'How to React to the Killing of Passengers'
Commenting on the call for restraint, the Polish Foreign Minister referred to the morning strike on the Dnipro railway station, which, according to him, killed approximately ten passengers. 'I would like someone to explain to me how to react to the killing of about a dozen passengers, for example, this morning at the Dnipro railway station,' Sikorski stated. He added that it is impossible not to protest against the war of aggression, which, in his estimation, has already claimed over a million lives.
Refusal of Group Photo with Lavrov
Separately, Sikorski commented on the presence of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the meeting. The Polish minister announced that there will be no traditional group photo with the Russian diplomat this time. 'Because I am not the only one who does not want to be photographed with Lavrov,' he explained. According to Sikorski, the presence of the Russian representative creates inconvenience for the meeting participants, and five years of, in his words, 'bloody war' must finally come to an end.
Context: Washington's Request to Allies
As RBC-Ukraine recalls, information that the Pentagon and other structures in Washington asked a number of NATO countries, in particular the Baltic states, to soften their rhetoric regarding the Russian threat appeared in the media based on Reuters data. This request, against the backdrop of ongoing strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure, caused resonance in Europe and prompted a public reaction from Warsaw and Tallinn at the G20 venue.
Tallinn's Response: Appeasement Brings Humiliation
In response to Washington's calls, Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal stated that appeasing Russian leader Vladimir Putin will bring only humiliation, as the Baltic states, according to him, clearly understand the real scale of the threat from Russia. Thus, both Warsaw and Tallinn outlined a unified position at the G20 meeting: they do not intend to soften their rhetoric amid ongoing hostilities and strikes on civilian targets.
