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Polish PM: "Use frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine"

Poland's premier emphasised the importance of Finland and Sweden joining Nato as soon as possible.

Pääministeri Sanna Marinin ja Puolan pääministeri Mateusz Morawiecki.
Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP) and her Polish counterpart, Mateusz Morawiecki, in Helsinki on Sunday 20 November 2022. Image: Mikko Koski / Yle
  • Yle News

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki met with Finnish PM Sanna Marin (SDP) during a visit to Helsinki on Sunday.

Speaking at a press event following their meeting, Morawiecki said Finland should use frozen Russian assets in the country, such as those seized from oligarchs, to aid Ukraine. 

"I hope the EU Commission finds a judicial solution for carryting this out," Marin said in response to Morawiecki's suggestion. 

The premiers also discussed Finland's future Nato membership, topical EU matters as well as bilateral relations between Finland and Poland. 

Poland, a Nato member, ratified Finland and Sweden's applications to join the alliance last summer. Morawiecki said it was important that both Nordic countries—which are still awaiting ratification by Hungary and Turkey— join Nato as soon as possible.

Russia's war of aggression was also on Sunday's agenda. Earlier this week two men died after a missile hit a Polish village near the Ukrainian border. 

Morawiecki told reporters that regardless of whether that missile was fired from Russia or Ukraine, Russia's invasion was to blame. 

"Russia carries full responsibility for these tragic events," he said. 

Morawiecki, representing the right-wing Law and Justice Party, has served as Poland's premier since 2017. This was his first official visit to Finland.