President Andrzej Duda delivered his New Year’s address to the nation. Its main theme was the war in Ukraine and the security of the country in relation to Russia’s aggression and other threats.

“Despite the uncertainty and numerous challenges and problems, we, Poles, we have opened our hearts and homes to our neighbours in need. We can be proud of this attitude. We have all magnificently passed the test of humanity, solidarity and patriotism in 2022”, said President Andrzej Duda in his New Year’s address.

As he stressed, ‘we are living in dangerous times, because there is a war triggered by Russia at our eastern border. ‘There has not been such a war in Europe since the end of the Second World War’, said the President.

Andrzej Duda pointed out that the brutal Russian aggression against independent Ukraine had brought death, pain and suffering, and that there was still no prospect of an end to the conflict.

‘We in Poland, like no one else in the world, see the enormity of human tragedies with our own eyes every day. We meet mothers and children who seek refuge in Poland, fleeing the nightmare of war. They are our guests’, said the President.

In his address, Andrzej Duda recalled the effects of the war affecting Poland including the energy crisis, rising prices, economic slowdown and the feeling of uncertainty about the future, for which Putin’s Russia policy is responsible.

“But we have not been divided, we have not succumbed to Russian propaganda and disinformation. This is a phenomenon that the whole world is talking about. We can be proud of this attitude”, assessed the President.

The Polish leader also spoke about history, the future and the necessity of cooperation.

“That is why I wish you to be able to be above what differentiate and seek what unites us. I hope that, whatever our views or beliefs are, we can talk to each other in a friendly manner, and that we can always shake hands in agreement. Happy New Year”, concluded the President.

Arkadiusz Słomczyński