A Stolen Show

If it hadn’t been for Russian aggression in Crimea and eastern Ukraine, would Barack Obama have visited the Castle Square in Warsaw to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Polish democracy?

Very doubtful, all the more so because we have been complaining for ages that the Polish Revolution stayed in the shadow of arguments we are involved in, and Europe relates the breakthrough moment to the fall of the Berlin Wall and not to the victory of Polish democracy on June 4. “This blossoming of hope, was lit by you, the people of Poland. History was made here,” said Obama, giving us satisfaction and soothing our inferiority complexes.

Will this message be heard throughout the world? Poland has been on the safe side for a long time, and the full attention of European opinion is focused on Ukraine and Russia. Our national holiday has been appropriated by geostrategy and big politics. But an old Polish motto, “There is no freedom without solidarity,” took on a new, precisely geostrategic meaning. There is no freedom without supporting the safety of our region. There will be no real freedom if we stay indifferent to the situation in Ukraine.

Obama, a natural-born orator, spoke in beautiful and energetic words about the safety guarantee for Poland. “The Polish people,” he reminded everyone about our other, historical complex, “were abandoned by friends when you needed them most. And as allies, we have a solemn duty — a binding treaty obligation — to defend your territorial integrity. And we will. We stand together — now and forever — for your freedom is ours.” Putin must have heard these words quite clearly.

Now, instead of a high note, let’s talk facts. They are modest so far, but it is easy to see that there are three parallel negotiation processes going on. All of them are now moving to Normandy, where the most important politics will gather once again on the occasion of the D-Day anniversary celebrations. First of all: negotiations with Russia. Obama clearly expressed a conciliatory tone. There is no need for another Cold War with Russia. If Putin accepts the election of Poroshenko as president and stops the armed rebellion in eastern Ukraine, he will have a chance to renew good terms with the West. Second of all: negotiations with allies of the U.N. Even without today’s problems with Russia, they should reinforce the east flank of the coalition and take more care of their defense, and also their finances. There is not much unanimity in this matter.

Third of all: relations with Ukraine. Nowadays, focus has shifted toward supporting Ukraine instead of punishing Russia for annexation of Crimea. But Ukraine needs a lot of support. Its difficult situation shows how much Poland has achieved within 25 years and why it rejoices so much on Polish Freedom Day.