Polish officers ordered the closure of Russia’s consulate in Krakow on Monday after an investigation concluded that Moscow was responsible for a 2024 arson that destroyed a shopping mall in Warsaw.
Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski introduced the closure on Monday and in addition remarked on the matter throughout a go to to the U.Okay. It got here after the conclusion of a year-long investigation right into a blaze that destroyed a shopping mall with some 1,400 shops final yr.
“This was an enormous fireplace of a shopping center in Warsaw wherein, simply by sheer luck, no one was damage. That is utterly unacceptable,” Sikorski mentioned. “So the Russian consulate must depart, and if these assaults proceed, we’ll take additional motion.”
Russian officers have denied wrongdoing and condemned Poland’s choice in statements to the press.
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A fireplace burns from an unlimited purchasing complicated in Warsaw, Poland, Could 12, 2024. (AP Photograph/Norbert Ofmanski, File)
“Warsaw is constant to intentionally destroy relations and performing towards the pursuits of its residents,” ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova mentioned, in keeping with Russian media.
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The incident comes simply days earlier than Russian President Vladimir Putin is about to satisfy face-to-face with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Turkey on Thursday. Putin initially proposed the Thursday assembly this weekend, and President Donald Trump prompted Zelenskyy to simply accept the provide. Putin mentioned the talks in Istanbul should be held with out preconditions and with the aim of lasting peace.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet with Ukraine’s Zelenskyy on Thursday. (Valentina Pevtsova, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photograph through AP)
Putin has to date provided few, if any, concessions however is now saying talks ought to handle the basis causes of the conflict. He mentioned Sunday that he deliberate to talk to Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan about facilitating the negotiations, which he mentioned may lead to a ceasefire.
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“Our proposal, as they are saying, is on the desk,” Putin mentioned. “The choice is now as much as the Ukrainian authorities and their curators, who’re guided, it appears, by their private political ambitions, and never by the pursuits of their peoples.”
Zelenskyy agreed to satisfy instantly with Putin following urging from Trump.
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The Russian chief mentioned he doesn’t rule out that Moscow and Kyiv will agree on “some new truces, a brand new ceasefire” throughout negotiations in Turkey, saying that the talks can be step one towards a “sustainable” peace.
Fox Information’ Landon Mion contributed to this report.
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