WARSAW

Poland’s Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski told his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Monday that Poland opposes Beijing’s indirect support for Moscow in its war with Ukraine – which Beijing refers to as “the Ukrainian crisis”. During the meeting, which took place in Helenow, located close to the Polish capital Warsaw, Sikorski also urged for more Chinese engagement on ending the war various media reported.

Tensions have also been rising along Poland’s eastern border. Last week, Warsaw closed the Małaszewicze border crossing with Belarus, effectively halting a key artery of Sino-Polish and Sino-EU trade. The move came in response to ongoing Russian-Belarusian military exercises, known as Zapad-2025, and after Polish airspace was violated by drones during a Russian attack on Ukraine last week.

"If the border is to be fully open, there must be peace on both sides," a Sikorski aide told reporters, adding that since 2021, Poland had spent half a billion euros building a fence along its 400-km (250-mile) border with Belarus following a rise in illegal crossings.

Sikorski noted that his predecessor, President Andrzej Duda, had raised border security concerns during a 2024 visit to Beijing, which he said "helped for a few months,” but added that “unfortunately, this hybrid operation has intensified again. So, we need to talk again."

According to diplomatic sources cited by the PAP news agency, an estimated 80% of dual-use goods aiding Russia originate in or pass through China. Officials also claim that China continues to indirectly support the Kremlin by purchasing large volumes of Russian oil.

Officials estimate the Małaszewicze crossing handles around 12–13% of China’s rail exports to European markets, trade valued at approximately €25 billion annually. China has expressed interest in expanding these rail links as part of its Belt and Road Initiative.

Wang is also scheduled to meet with Polish President Karol Nawrocki later Monday.