On Monday, Polish authorities ordered the closure of the Russian consulate in Krakow, following an investigation into the fire that devastated a shopping center in Warsaw in 2024. Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski communicated this decision during a visit to the UK, highlighting the seriousness of the situation after a year-long inquiry into the incident, which impacted around 1,400 retail outlets.
“This was a significant fire in a shopping mall in Warsaw, and fortunately, no one was harmed. This is entirely unacceptable,” Sikorski stated. “Consequently, the Russian consulate is required to vacate. Should these types of attacks persist, we will take further measures.”
In response, Russian officials dismissed the accusations and criticized Poland’s decision in a media statement.
According to Russian media, “Warsaw is intentionally undermining relations and acting counter to the interests of its citizens.”
Separately, Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday, having proposed discussions aimed at fostering peace earlier this week. This comes amid ongoing tensions, with Putin noting that discussions should focus on the underlying causes of the conflict. He plans to include Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan in talks to promote negotiations, which could facilitate a ceasefire.
Putin indicated that Moscow would not dismiss potential agreements for new ceasefires but emphasized that the decision now lies with Ukrainian authorities, whom he claimed are influenced by personal political agendas rather than the needs of their populace.
