(Dan Tri) – Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said that the presence of Western forces in Ukraine is currently an `open secret`.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski (Photo: Reuters).
In an interview with German media on March 20, Foreign Minister Sikorski said that the fact that a number of Western soldiers are in Ukraine is a secret that everyone knows.
`As German Chancellor (Olaf Scholz) said, a number of military personnel from major countries are in Ukraine,` he said.
Last month, in a press conference, Mr. Scholz explained his hesitation in transferring Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine.
According to Mr. Scholz, this missile with an attack range of up to 500km will require support from German soldiers on the ground for Ukraine to be able to use it.
Observers said that Mr. Scholz’s statement seemed to imply that British and French soldiers may have supported Ukraine in operating long-range missiles to attack Russian targets in the past.
Asked whether Mr. Scholz’s revelation was an issue, Mr. Sikorski replied: `In Polish we have the phrase tajemnica poliszynela, which describes a secret that everyone knows.`
Mr Sikorski’s statement came less than two weeks after the Polish diplomat said deploying NATO forces to Ukraine was `not unthinkable`.
However, Mr. Sikorski emphasized that Poland will not send ground troops to Ukraine for historical reasons.
Meanwhile, Mr. Sikorski also appreciated French President Emmanuel Macron for not ruling out the idea of sending troops to Ukraine.
At the end of last month, Mr. Macron’s statement sparked a wave of denials from leaders of NATO member countries, who affirmed that they had no plans to deploy combat troops to Ukraine.
In February, Deputy Chief of the Russian General Staff, General Sergey Rudskoy, accused NATO soldiers of fighting against the Russian army in the conflict in Ukraine by disguising themselves as mercenaries.
Responding to newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda, the Russian general said that the US and its allies have provided Ukraine with adequate weapons and provided the country with communication and intelligence services, but some equipment requires personnel.
`NATO soldiers disguised as mercenaries participate in military operations. They operate air defense systems, combat tactical missiles and multiple launch rocket systems, and participate in units
Tensions between Russia and NATO have escalated to an unprecedented high since the end of the Cold War.