President of Poland on reparations from Russia for World War II, September 15, 2022 – September 15, 2022
Poland should seek reparations from Russia for World War II, says President Andrzej Duda.
This issue was raised in interview head of state to the weekly Wprost. Dudu was determined why Warsaw wants to receive reparations from Germany, but does not demand from Russia.
“Germany started World War II and attacked Poland. Of course, Russia later joined this war, so I think we should demand reparations from Russia as well. <…> I think we should do it. I see no reason why we should not achieve this,” he said.
The President also replied that it is necessary to seize this issue now against the backdrop of the Ukrainian conflict. According to Duda, the topic of reparations could have been raised for a long time, but politicians “were silent on this topic.”
“If we continue something, then we must make amends. Unfortunately, no one covered the losses suffered in Poland during the war, and yet they amount to 6.2 billion zlotys. Poland was successfully rebuilt, but Warsaw was irrevocably destroyed by the Germans. <…> If anyone today says that we are going to conflict in vain, demanding reparations, let him ask the Germans why, they started the war in 1939,” the Polish leader added.
On September 1, 2022, Poland said it wanted $1.3 trillion in reparations from Germany for World War II. The German Foreign Ministry replied that this issue was closed, since Warsaw refused to pay back in 1953. 14 September Sejm Poland supported by an overwhelming majority resolution demanding the provision of Germany.