Poland’s foreign minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, has called for a rapid ceasefire in the Black Sea that would allow the safe passage of grain shipments from both Ukraine and Russia.
Speaking to reporters on Friday during a two-day meeting of foreign ministers from the Group of 20 major economies in Atlanta, Sikorski said the case for acting quickly was straightforward.
“I spoke in favor of doing something quickly because the people of the Global South need this grain,” he said.
Sikorski, who was invited to the meeting by the United States as host nation, said Ukraine must be included in any effort to end Russia’s invasion, now in its fifth year. Europe also had “cards” in the issue and should be involved, he added.
He also argued that there should be a “fair end” to the war before Russia is able to sell its energy products once again to Europe, formerly its most lucrative market. Moscow, he said, must end its war against Ukraine before being allowed to resume energy sales to the continent.
The intervention came alongside a separate debate about Poland’s place in the G20 itself. The United States, which holds the rotating presidency of the group this year, has proposed that Poland become a full member, on a par with Germany and France, which are also represented through the European Union.
Sikorski said he welcomed the push and had discussed it with a number of G20 member countries in bilateral meetings in Atlanta. Western officials caution, however, that it could take years for Poland to be accepted as a full member, given Russia’s opposition and the G20’s requirement for decisions by consensus.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters that inviting Poland to attend G20 meetings was counterproductive and broke with diplomatic practice, according to Russian news agencies. “Of course, this violates the principles of diplomacy, and especially multilateral diplomacy, when members of associations such as the G20 work on the basis of consensus,” Lavrov was quoted as saying.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking at a reception for the ministers at Atlanta’s Georgia Aquarium, said Poland deserved to be made a full member. “President (Donald) Trump believes their economic success and growing global influence is exactly what the G20 needs to tackle the major economic challenges we all face,” Rubio said.
Sikorski also told reporters that Britain, which will head the G20 next year, had already invited Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk to attend the 2027 leaders’ summit in Manchester, England.
Sources: Reuters, “Poland’s Sikorski calls for rapid ceasefire in Black Sea to allow food shipments”, https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/polands-sikorski-calls-rapid-ceasefire-black-sea-allow-food-shipments-2026-10-31/ — Lavrov’s remarks are as reported by Russian news agencies via Reuters.
