13.10.2026 17:52
Polish Foreign Minister Sikorski said they will not allow frozen Russian assets to be returned to Moscow 'without trampling on our corpses'. Sikorski emphasized that if Russia files a lawsuit, Belgium should not be left to bear responsibility alone.
Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski stated that they will not allow frozen Russian assets to be returned to Moscow "without treading on their corpses."
In his speech at a panel held as part of the Warsaw Security Forum, Sikorski said that European countries would maintain their firm stance against Russia.
POLISH FOREIGN MINISTER'S CHALLENGE TO RUSSIA
Noting that in the Russia-Ukraine War, Russian President Vladimir Putin is the aggressor and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is the side that was attacked, Sikorski said, "You end a war by pressuring the aggressor to limit its objectives, not by asking the attacked side to surrender."
Sikorski, noting that they have experienced frustration for years over frozen Russian assets, emphasized that if Russia files a lawsuit, Belgium should not be left solely responsible.
Acknowledging that the use of the assets is a complex issue, Sikorski said, "We are working on this, but there are also rumors that some people 'expect these assets to be returned to Russia again.' I think I am not speaking only for myself; it cannot happen without trampling over our corpses."
"WHAT IS AT STAKE IS EUROPE'S POSITION IN THE GLOBAL BALANCE OF POWER"
Emphasizing that Putin has been fighting in Donbas for 13 years and still has not captured the region, Sikorski stated that, according to his assessments, Russia would need hundreds of thousands more soldiers to capture the remaining defense lines in Donbas.
Sikorski stated that Ukraine's attacks on refineries and data centers in Russia are effective, while noting that Russia is trying to terrorize Ukrainian cities.
Pointing out that attacks on cities will not bring the war to an end, Sikorski said, "You can kill many people, you can commit many war crimes, but these do not end a war."
Saying that there is no need to panic about Russia in the medium term, but that the threat is real, Sikorski underlined that Russia's power is not as great as it appears.
Drawing attention to the fact that if the commitments made at NATO's The Hague and Ankara summits are fulfilled, European countries will have armies by 2030 that Putin cannot confront, Sikorski assessed, "What is at stake is not whether we will be occupied. What is at stake is Europe's position in the global balance of power."