History / What should Russia and Poland do to become if not friends, then at least not enemies? [945]

Anyone can see that themselves. Do you agree that Russia being run by a murderous, kleptocratic dictator like Putin might be a teensy-weensy stumbling block in the matter of any free country, Poland included, becoming closer to them?

Be careful with your answer - your supervisor Vitaly is loading his Makarov and a 4am taxi will be waiting outside your family's apartment.

History / What should Russia and Poland do to become if not friends, then at least not enemies? [945]


Another what? Another murderous, kleptocratic dictator?


I doubt anyone is 'infatuated with Russians', except maybe the less educated sort of Belarussian. The raped women of Berlin certainly aren't, nore are Poles. Or anyone else really.

Great though that you


Be careful who sees that, Trzy Kola, he has a habit of killing people who don't "fully endorse' his evil presidency.

History / What should Russia and Poland do to become if not friends, then at least not enemies? [945]

Still waiting, probably while Trzy Kola (certainly a very new recruit to the Putinist troll farm) asks his supervisor Vitaly what the official line is. If he gets it wrong, the whole family go to Kolyma.

History / What should Russia and Poland do to become if not friends, then at least not enemies? [945]

No. No connection with it. Interesting you ask, since both Poland and Ukraine have been victimised by Russia over the years.

I answered your question, you answer mine:

History / What should Russia and Poland do to become if not friends, then at least not enemies? [945]


This is a discussion forum, isn't it?

And yes, basics.


Just the head of the snake, the heirs to the atrocities, the ones sitting in the same offices in the Kremlin. Like the piece of excrement Putin.


There you go again. For a Putinist troll, you should try a bit harder.

So do you agree that removal of the criminal Putin from office and him answering to his crimes is a precursor to friendship with free poland?

History / What should Russia and Poland do to become if not friends, then at least not enemies? [945]

And Poland (part of the free west) needs to do nothing except make representations at the piece of excrement Putin's criminal trial at The Hague, accept an apology (with substantial financial compensation for Russia's crimes, and see its friend and neighbour Ukraine free again.

Plus bringing to trial any Poles who have been Russian agents, paid or otherwise.

History / What should Russia and Poland do to become if not friends, then at least not enemies? [945]


Very good.

Now to look at the original question, how can Russia become closer to Poland and the rest of the Weat.

There are some basics so obvious that they aren't even for discussion, like the removal of Putin and his standing trial in The Hague, an immediate withdrawal from Ukraine, dismantling their political system, and the release of jailed opposition figures. These are however only the very basics.

I would propose substantial financial compensation for Poland to cover the depredations from partition until 1989, for the Katyn Crime, the deportations to Siberia and the wartime mass rape of civilian women by the Russian army as well as a release of every scrap of documentation concerning Russian espionage in Poland post-1989.

Without this, the status quo, antipathy from Poland (and the rest of free Europe) will certainly remain for many years.

History / What should Russia and Poland do to become if not friends, then at least not enemies? [945]


Who said that? And who said that all citizens of brave Ukraine are 'nazis'? In fact most are very far from that.,,

As for your picture, anyone here can post pictures of extremists and gangsters in politics, people like the insane Zhirinovsky, or the toxic piece of excrement Putin.


I might believe you eventually. Millions wouldn't.

News / Poles say a big YES to our European Union [996]


Yes, though many in that community prefer not to assimilate, which is of course their choice. People who've come from many other places have opened up restaurants since freedom of movement ended borders, just as Polish citizens have opened restaurants and cafes elsewhere in our EU.

The opportunities it has brought are excellent.

News / Poles say a big YES to our European Union [996]


Some legally, some less so. Nowadays of course Poland has freedom of movement, which is working very well indeed for the country.

@DirkDiggler, if you want people to read what you write (I didn't and doubt others did) try to be more concise, not a great long stream of consciousness, not even divided into paragraphs. It's a basic courtesy. 100 words is usually enough to say anything.

History / What should Russia and Poland do to become if not friends, then at least not enemies? [945]

I think you know the situation. About Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine, including Crimea, about their murder of civilian airline passengers (not the first time Russia had done that - they seem to be making a habit of terror), and do, so many other very good reasons that Poland and the rest of the west should isolate the barbaric Putinists.

History / What should Russia and Poland do to become if not friends, then at least not enemies? [945]


Not in Poland - there's near unanimity that Russia is a corrupt aggressor, a toxic autocracy presided over by the kleptocrat Putin.

No matter how many 'articles' from Putin sponsored sources you hope people will read can ever change that.

Next you'll be recommending 'Russia Today' as if it were reliable, or giving us the address to Putin's online troll factory.

News / Poles say a big YES to our European Union [996]


Basically an artificial situation. As Poland gradually opens up, we'll never see a return to this.

History / What should Russia and Poland do to become if not friends, then at least not enemies? [945]

The 'traditional values' in Russia are at the heart of your problems, autocracy, corruption, state sanctioned murder, and above all, the kleptocrat Putin sits at the top of the whole rotten heap.


Navalny is being persecuted by the Putinists, not by America.

And a huge stumbling block towards relations between a European country like Poland and the gangster state that is Russia, is Russia's illegal invasion of one of Poland's best friends, brave Ukraine.

History / What should Russia and Poland do to become if not friends, then at least not enemies? [945]


Russia has lots of laws, even a constitution - they just abuse them. It's a whole change in culture that's needed, and this is much harder. Brave people like Pvssy Riot highlight this and get jailed, Politovskaya exposed corruption and Putin had her killed, about Navalny, he's also persecuted by the Putinists. Russia is too deeply mired in evil to change any time soon.


See above.

History / What should Russia and Poland do to become if not friends, then at least not enemies? [945]


The first step is Russia starting to behave, stop interfering in other countries, and introducing a functioning democracy and higher standards in business and public life.

News / Poles say a big YES to our European Union [996]


Probably very wisely, since there's no real reason or such a bloc - there are already links between the various armies within NATO in that region, and remember Crowie, Poland always faces west rather than east.


Of course. Europe is a complex place, and our EU unites people of so many heritages. This is something that Poles have taken huge advantages of while migrating within Europe post-2004, especially to Britain and Ireland.

News / Poles say a big YES to our European Union [996]

So far we're still members, and with an exceptionally high level of support. There will obviously be demographic changes over the next few years - nowhere is a fortress, however people do get used to change with time.

News / Poles say a big YES to our European Union [996]


It's neither giving nor taking, Crowie. It's sharing.


You prefer isolation?


No. Just no.

Travel / Why do you visit Poland? [223]

@Kaprys

There's a good restaurant near the castle, tables outside and decent food.

News / Poles say a big YES to our European Union [996]


Quite. Huge subsidies that have transformed the country, a bulwark against Russia, the opporutnity to live, work and study around Europe and a check on nationalism.

Travel / Why do you visit Poland? [223]

A few of the towns in that area are interesting

Travel / Why do you visit Poland? [223]


Yes, it's well worth a visit.

Travel / Why do you visit Poland? [223]


I don't rate Zakopane much - too touristy. I prefer the Swietokrzyskie hills much more than Zakopane. I also like (as a resort) Ciechocinek. Not spectacular scenery, but the teznia is worth seeing and the town is pleasant and inexpensive. Handy for Warsaw too.


Have you been to Gdansk?


Not really. In fact not at all.

The circumstances in Denmark were that news of brutal behaviour would have reached Germans and and weakened support within Germany for the regime. Any civil disobedience in Poland could be (and was) crushed more brutally without the risk of that spreading to Germany or their citizens particularly caring..

Law / Uber in Poland - illegal [28]

The infamous 'surge pricing'. That can happen in central Warsaw on Friday and Saturday evenings, or if there's a big sporting match. usually it doesn't, and if the surge pricing message appears, just wait a few minutes - it may increase or may disappear.

News / Poles say a big YES to our European Union [996]


Looks like you've never been to Warsaw.

To repeat, 88% of Poles support the EU.

News / Poles say a big YES to our European Union [996]


Some how I doubt that.


The latest CBOS figures - and PiS hate the stats, by the way.

Law / Uber in Poland - illegal [28]


Probably far more likely. There are some pretty bad taxi drivers working in Warsaw.

The Uber rating system works to customers' advantage - if the driver gets low ratings, they're given special training, if it continues, they're taken off the system.

Taxi drivers can and do behave more or less how they like.

Law / Uber in Poland - illegal [28]

Yes. It's nothing that affects the passengers. Uber are cheaper than conventional taxis, the drivers are politer, and the route is chosen by GPS so no 'scenic route' round town - and if there actually are any complaints, it goes through the app, Uber refund the customer right away, abd of course drivers tend to be on their best behaviour due to the ratings system.

News / Poles say a big YES to our European Union [996]


Absolutely - and it's great for the EU as a whole, including Poland. to have an extra currency. If the government did this properly, the zloty counld have a bery interesting future.


Most would find that a straightforward question.


It's a simple yes or no - sign up to the EU and everything it involves, including sharing responsibility for demographic change, or be outside the EU and try to handle that change alone.