Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine create new platform for regional cooperation

Poland, Ukraine and Lithuania will form a new platform for cooperation, Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz said on Tuesday after talks with his counterparts from the other two countries.

The so-called Lublin Triangle, named after the eastern Polish city of Lublin where the three foreign ministers met, will include the domains of security, economy and political matters, as well as cooperation on fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

The three countries also aim for the Lublin Triangle to play a role in Ukraine’s efforts to align closer to the European Union (EU) and NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). Poland and Lithuania have both supported Ukraine’s accession to both organizations.

“By implementing these mechanisms of cooperation, we will be able to realize our goals,” Czaputowicz said during a press conference. Referring to other regional partnerships, he said that “These include an ongoing engagement in developing the Eastern Partnership, effective measures against the coronavirus pandemic and strong support for the European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations of Ukraine, as well as the ties and cooperation of that country with the Three Seas initiative.” This latter is a forum of 12 EU states.

Neighboring Russia has vehemently opposed any steps to realign Ukraine to the West, especially to NATO.

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Source: Xinhua