Polish President Andrzej Duda slammed the leaders of Germany and France over their phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In an interview with the German newspaper Bild, Duda likened the calls to speaking with Hitler during World War II.
“Did anyone speak like this with Adolf Hitler during World War II?” Duda said. The Polish leader’s comments came after French President Emmanuel Macron drew fresh criticism for warning against “humiliating” Russia and calling for a negotiated solution to end the fighting in Ukraine.
“Did anyone say that Adolf Hitler must save face? That we should proceed in such a way that it is not humiliating for Adolf Hitler? I have not heard such voices,” Duda said.
Poland has been a major supporter of Ukraine in its war against Russia and sent about 240 Soviet-era tanks to Kyiv. Germany said it would replace Poland’s tanks, but Duda said the German tanks haven’t come.
“As far as I know we’ve received nothing at all,” Duda said. “We gave our tanks away and now we have nothing at all in their place.” The Polish leader criticized German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for his reluctance to send heavy weapons into Ukraine.
Poland’s issues with Germany and France represent a split between NATO nations on how much support to give Ukraine in its war.
The US, Britain, Poland, the Baltic States, and other Eastern European nations have discouraged diplomacy with Moscow and favor sending more advanced weaponry into the war zone. Germany, France, and Italy have been calling for negotiations and are more reluctant to pour arms into Ukraine.
The Poles have a lot to blame Russian about. But come on, do we need the end of the Europe (including Russia here) and possibly the end of civilization around the world because they are entrenched in dangerous outdated historical thinking. The world is different than it was after WWII. Replaying endlessly past wars is useless. Neverending. And to that point, aren’t the Poles proud Catholics — isn’t a wonderful, salient tenet of Christianity the ability to forgive and move on?
“The world is different than it was after WWII.” Indeed but what is the difference?
I hold that the world has entered an era which is similar to the 1920’s in the following way. During the 1920’s, the world’s trading system based on the gold standard began to unravel among others because the mining of gold could not keep pace with the rapidly increasing trade volume and every country needed much gold to protect its currency. One result: gold hoarding.
During the presidency of Nixon the dollar took over from gold as the underpinning of international trade. Now all nations want to have the largest possible dollar reserve. One result: dollar hoarding (China!).
Also growing trade demands that our central bank must print more dollars, which drives inflation. The removal of Russia from the dollar-trade system will soon ripple negatively through the world’s trade system.
On top of that, like in the 1920’s, the world’s political, financial, and economic leaders do not seem to know how to prevent the coming catastrophe.
Like FDR, President Biden must now call for another “Bretton Woods” conference on world trading and its financing. All countries, without any exception must be invited. Doing nothing is criminal.
Perhaps it’s just a realization he’s been had, … way out on a limb all by himself.
I had a little dog who barked ferociously at the big dog on the other side of the fence. Just for grins, I picked him up and put him in the other yard. Instantly, he became quiet and docile.
“Just for grins, I picked him up and put him in the other yard”
You are sick, stay away from animals!
President Duda appears confused. Unlike ww2, the current military affair is a very limited war between Russia and Ukraine, focused almost entirely in eastern and southern Ukraine. Of course, his nation has chosen to support one side in this affair by providing military supplies. That’s their choice and it does not obligate anyone else to do anything similar.
As to talking, that’s how wars end. The alternative to talking in this war is Ukraines complete elimination. Is that what Duda wants?