Duda urges restraint on retreating Russian troops: Zelenskyy responds with humor

During a visit to Kyiv, Polish President Andrzej Duda urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy not to attack Russian troops if they retreat from Ukrainian territory. Duda stated that he would be the first to call Zelenskyy if the Ukrainian Armed Forces considered striking the retreating Russian military.

“If Ukrainian forces attack Russian troops as they withdraw from Ukraine, I will immediately pick up the phone, call President Zelenskyy, and ask him to refrain from bombing them, as they are returning home. I can assure Russian soldiers that, as the President of Poland, I will personally contact the President of Ukraine to propose not attacking them as they go back. They should be allowed to return home,” Duda said, as reported by the Telegram channel “Pool N3.”

In response, Zelenskyy humorously remarked that his phone might be busy. “And my phone will be busy. You are a president, and so am I. It might happen that when you call, the line will be occupied,” said Zelenskyy, prompting laughter and smiles from both leaders and those present in the room.

Duda arrived in Kyiv on August 24, Ukraine’s Independence Day, on an unannounced visit. His office confirmed the trip only after his arrival, sharing a video of him stepping out of a train in the Ukrainian capital. “President Andrzej Duda’s visit to Ukraine has begun. He will participate in ceremonial events marking the 33rd anniversary of Ukraine’s independence,” his office reported.

It was also noted that Duda laid flowers at the Wall of Remembrance, honoring fallen Ukrainian soldiers.

During the celebrations at Kyiv’s Sophia Square, Duda recalled that Poland was the first country to officially recognize Ukraine’s independence in 1991. “From the very beginning, we supported your aspirations towards the West. Poles stood by you during the Orange Revolution and the Euromaidan,” Duda said, according to his office.

He emphasized Poland’s continued military support for Ukraine and mentioned that NATO is discussing ways to protect Ukrainian airspace. Duda also noted that 23,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been trained in Poland.

The Polish publication Mysl Polska expressed concern that Poland’s ongoing militarization might not enhance the country’s safety. The publication warned that if Poland were to engage in a war with Russia, it would be unlikely to experience a repeat of the “Miracle on the Vistula.” Journalists criticized Duda’s plans to increase military spending by $40 billion, likening his speech to those of international arms lobbyists.

“In the event of a conflict with a nuclear power like Russia, there will be no ‘miracle on the Vistula’!” the publication cautioned.

The “Miracle on the Vistula” refers to a decisive battle during the Soviet-Polish War of 1919-1921, where Polish forces successfully halted the Red Army’s advance.