Conversation with Sergei Andreyev, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Poland
Mr Ambassador, we have summary and forecasts of the fresh Year's, so it is impossible to start by asking whether anything has changed, after the government has changed in Poland, in our Polish-Russian relations.
– In Russian-Polish relations, in principle, no major changes took place. The fresh government has alternatively taken over the baton since the erstwhile 1 and has the same policy towards Russia. This is an unfriendly policy, so our relation is frozen.
Has the decision to close the Russian consular station in Poznań limited the anticipation of shaping these relations?
- Yes, of course. We had 3 general consulates in Poland. There are now only 2 remaining – in Krakow and Gdańsk. There were besides 3 Polish general consulates in Russia. Now, after closing the consulate in Petersburg, only the consulates in Kaliningrad and Irkutsk will remain.
Minister Sikorski claims that Russia had no right to take akin action. As usual, no 1 in the Polish media voiced Mr Ambassador and Russian diplomacy on this issue, so we would like you to be able to address this.
– The Minister is an experienced diplomat and understands well that in global relations and diplomacy the rule of reciprocity applies, so of course the Russian side had the right, including moral law, to specified an answer. For our part, we can see that it was the Polish side that had no grounds for closing our general consulate. This was motivated by any alleged hostile actions of the Russian side, but these actions were not proven. In our opinion, these accusations about the participation of the Russian authorities in any diversions, sabotages, arsons in Poland have absolutely no basis. With respect to the Consulate General in particular, it is known – I am certain that besides Polish services – that neither the consulate nor its employees considered in Poland to be persona non grata had anything to do with these events.
The Polish side, as I realize it, did not supply any documents, evidence that could justify these suspicions?
– As we have been utilized to this for respective years, accusations not only in Poland, but for example in the UK, in another hostile countries, are formulated on a highly likely basis. This means that it is allegedly ‘very likely’ that Russia was active in this or that. No evidence needed: if something is highly likely, it means that it is already “fact”.
The Ambassador here utilized the very crucial word "unfriendly country". Is Poland formally recognised as specified by the Russian authorities?
– The phrase is simply a small more cautious. Countries that have a hostile policy towards Russia, whether they take hostile action, etc. In 2022, erstwhile the Russian side had to take retaliatory action in consequence to the unfriendly Western, collective Western countries, as we say, and then defined this list of unfriendly countries.
At the same time, the Russian Federation can besides improve specified relations if there are circumstantial changes in individual countries. I mean here that Slovakia and Hungary are not on that list, although they are besides countries of the European Union.
"They are on it because, according to the discipline in NATO and the European Union, they are taking unfriendly action against Russia and we are responding to it. Of course, we note that there are circumstantial features in their policy towards Russia, but at the same time they stay associate States of organisations specified as NATO and the European Union.
Is the fact that in the Polish media, among Polish politicians very frequently there are divisions and even polls, should we not break up or lower the level of diplomatic relations, perceived by Russian diplomacy as a forerunner of breaking relations between our countries?
– We are besides asking what is the point in maintaining diplomatic relations with unfriendly countries, if these relations are going to zero erstwhile there is no political dialogue, there is very limited economical ties, there is no cultural exchange. Poland has banned Russian citizens from entering the country for business, cultural, sports, etc. We're banned for cars with Russian registration. Our fundamental position is that on our own initiative we do not break or lower the level of authoritative relations with another countries. We do this only in consequence to their actions. In our view, communication channels must stay open, even under the most hard circumstances. Sooner or later, we will come to rebuild relations, strive for fresh standardisation, normality in our relations. specified an irrational outburst now, to then rebuild it laboriously, would be very expensive. So we stay in this position and respond only erstwhile the Polish side forces us to do so.
The Russian Federation has adopted rules that make it easier for citizens of countries whose authorities prevent conventional values from being taught to settle in the Russian Federation. I don't know if the embassy or another diplomatic missions in Poland are involved, but are there any specified reports from Poland?
– There have been a number of specified cases. They're inactive in the process. Few, but they were.
Let's get back to the communication channels. Mr Ambassador noted that this channel should be preserved, according to Russia. We besides know that, for example, the United States retains very different working channels for this communication with Russia. Is Mr. Ambassador the only communication channel that remains between Warsaw and Moscow? Are there any working contacts at another levels?
– As far as I know, there's no specified contact. Even in my case, it is hard to talk about fulfilling this function, due to the fact that there is practically no political dialog now. Currently, specified a channel through the Russian embassy here and the Polish embassy in Moscow exists, but it is of a reserve nature, available for usage erstwhile desired and needed.
It may seem that Russia has late been being tried again to resolve the issue of safety without Russia being involved. The media is only curious in the voice of the American side. Does this affect the objectives of peculiar Military Operations in any way?
– Targets are known, the operation is moving forward. For more than a year now, Russia's armed forces have been in constant attack. The condition of Ukraine's armed forces, even according to their commentators, is lamentable. It takes time to admit this failure. The trend is apparent to everyone, so if there are any proposals from the fresh American administration or another Western countries, they will be considered. It is of course not to be expected that Russia will agree to any options that will not be in our interest. It is crucial for us that the causes of this conflict be removed. We are not curious in freezing this conflict until the West strengthens the Kiev government again and this government with fresh resources will resume the conflict. We request a final solution to this conflict, so that there is no longer a threat to the safety of the Russian Federation and our allies from the territory of Ukraine, or what will stay of it.
So this is simply a return to those demands that Russia proposed at the end of 2021, a return to the concept of a fresh safety architecture? Is that what you mean?
– In a sense, yes, but of course since then, as since the talks in Istanbul, the situation has changed very significantly. We proceed to keep what we said earlier, but given the changes that have taken place, or the real situation.
The changes that have already taken place or the ones that can inactive happen?
– president Putin and Minister Lavrow frequently say that if the opposition had not carried out a coup and coup in 2014, Ukraine would be within the borders of Crimea. After 2014, not anymore. If the Ukrainian authorities fulfilled their obligations under the Minsk Agreements, Ukraine would have remained at least with part of Donbas. If the Ukrainian authorities had signed the Istanbul Agreement, Ukraine would be without Donbass, but at least with the Kherson and Zaporosian circuits. What's next? We will see under what conditions the agreement will be concluded. However, they should learn from erstwhile experiences.
And with whom will specified an agreement be made? Can it be concluded with Kiev, or must it be concluded with his patrons?
– This besides depends on the situation in which talks will take place and yet on agreements. The situation is dynamic and it is known what position the Kiev authorities now have, both the president and the ultimate Council. There is now talk of elections that may take place next year. We'll see. Now, as you know, the decree of the president of Ukraine is in force, which has prohibited himself and all another Kiev officials from talking to Russia. So present we do not even request to discuss conditions due to the fact that any negotiations are prohibited.
There is inactive a hazard in the form of disputed rightfulness of power. president Zelenski, according to the Constitution of Ukraine, is no longer the President, and even if an agreement was reached now, individual could say again in a fewer years that this agreement does not substance due to the fact that it was not concluded with the legal authorities of Ukraine.
– Of course, we besides request to take this aspect into account now, and probably, in order to engage with the representatives of that party, we request any additional solutions to legitimise its representatives. As you said, you should not later have problems recognising the legality of these agreements that are to arise from the talks.
Let us return to Poland for a minute and to a possible broader agreement on European security. Should Russian postulates besides be understood in the context of specified objects as the base of the alleged rocket shield in Redzikov, meaning the liquidation of this American base?
"Russian management has not spoken in this way about this base, so we have no reason to include this subject in the discussion about the Ukrainian conflict. Of course, we have been saying from the beginning, since the time erstwhile it was inactive about building this base, as well as the bases in Romania, that we see this base as a threat to our security, despite the fact that for many years it has been said from the Western side that it is not directed against Russia, but only against Iranian missiles. It was claimed that this base does not even have the method capability to be utilized against Russia. Meanwhile, they are now openly saying that it is to be utilized to combat Russian missiles. Politicians and officials who talk about it don't care at all.
Is the Ambassador able to comment on this map, which besides appeared on the Russian side – although we point out that unofficial – according to which Western Ukraine should be subject to any influence, any common solutions between Poland, Romania and Hungary?
– I don't want to comment on that. From various non-state sources, from political scientists, another researchers of these topics, we hear many things, but let us stick to authoritative positions.
This is frequently utilized in our politics against Russia, as confirmation of the thesis that Moscow is urging us to dismantle Ukraine.
– In Poland, too, for any reason, especially retired generals, are very fond of drawing, sketching different scenarios and strange, how easy they change their grades and positions, without harming their own authority.
Returning to Redzikov – it appeared in announcements or warnings of any Russian politicians as 1 of two, outside Rzeszow – Jasionka, possible military targets of Russia in the event of escalation of the conflict. Can people in these areas feel safe?
– This is again about the statements of people who do not hold any state positions, so they are free to express different opinions. Let's stick to authoritative positions.
So let's ask president Putin's words, due to the fact that he rather clearly suggested that the Russian technological advantage allows the usage of rockets of the kind "Oreshnik", informing the civilian population of the country on which specified a rocket is to fall. So possibly that's a preview, too?
– The president only described the technological capabilities of our fresh weapon. Of course, this is simply a informing to our non-Western partners who should be careful, but it was not a threat.
I very much liked the word "non-partners" by Mr. Ambassador. We've heard about partners for years, now we hear about non-partners. A non-partner is not yet an opponent?
– For example, they say ex-partners after divorce. You can besides say non-partners. We are utilized to the words ‘partner’, ‘partners’, but at 1 phase we have understood that first we gotta talk about Western countries, their governments as ‘partners’, but on the another hand we gotta change something.
We are dealing with a situation in which the candidate of 1 of the political parties in Poland is simply a individual wanted by the Russian judiciary. Could winning a individual like that make our relation more hard or freeze?
– We do not interfere in Poland's interior affairs. Depending on the result of the elections, we will analyse the situation.
Would the Ambassador agree that the possible withdrawal of the United States from Europe, from this region, which is any part of the announcement of the fresh Trump administration, would give any impetus to re-building Polish-Russian relations without making Poland specified a territory, where the base in Radzikow is located, and the aim is to face Russia?
– To be honest, I do not believe in the anticipation of the United States withdrawing from Europe. Rather, it is simply a way of influencing the future United States administration, by the future president on allies, to prompt them to circumstantial behaviors that, according to future president Trump, are in the interests of both the United States and the full collective West. In my opinion, it is not worth seriously considering this possibility.
2025 is simply a very crucial year in our relationship. We have a circular anniversary of Poland's liberation. Does the Ambassador hope that, in any moments, at the occasion of the various anniversary events, there may be any rapprochement between us, even if we share in the celebrations?
– No, nothing points to that possibility. For example, we have the announcement of not having an invitation to celebrate the circular anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau camp in Oświęcim. In my opinion, it will be the same with all another anniversaries – the liberation of Warsaw, Krakow, Gdańsk. Of course, it will be triumph Day on May 9th. In the best case, it will be done without incidents of the kind that occurred in 2022 at the Cemetery – the russian Soldiers Mausoleum in Warsaw. In my opinion, this circular anniversary will only be a pretext for strengthening specified narratives by Polish institutions and officials, to whom we have already been utilized in the last 10 years.
In this situation, in the context of the celebrations, can 1 number on the fact that social, civic diplomacy, i.e. the activities of various Polish organizations, associations that care about memory?
– We appreciate the participation of our Polish friends in flowering ceremonies, anniversary celebrations, to which they come to receptions at our embassy, but let's say the truth: this is simply a very tiny part of the Polish society and polls make it clear that most of this society is now hostile to Russia, to our politics, etc.
Finally, a small personal. Mr. Ambassador is already a evidence holder erstwhile it comes to the leadership of the Polish embassy and the internship of Russian ambassadors in Warsaw.
– Not all of them, due to the fact that we had ambassadors who were longer in office before the partition. But since the restoration of Poland's independency in 1918, since the restoration of diplomatic relations in 1921 – yes, I am the longest acting ambassador. I can't say my work here is more fruitful than my predecessors' work.
Isn't this 1 of the most hard institutions in Russian diplomacy?
– As far as I know, now the situation in most Western collective countries is more or little the same. If we could have said that before, now it's not. Now in Warsaw it is not harder than in Prague, London or Washington.
I think you know the Polish Ambassador as well as anyone else in Russian diplomacy. You've gotten to know her well over the last 10 years.
– But someway it doesn't truly aid to bring our relation back to a more affirmative state. possibly erstwhile I finish my occupation here, it'll be a sign of improvement.
Let us hope that they will improve even during your term. Thank you so much for talking to me.
“Thank you and want you a happy fresh Year to be healthy and in the best condition. Thank you very much.
Tomasz Jankowski and Mateusz Piskorski spoke
Think Poland, No. 1-2 (5-12.01.2025)
