Sikorski: Ukraine withstanding winter could lead to ceasefire; Poland prepares gas aid

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski suggested that Ukraine's ability to withstand the coming winter could pave the way for a ceasefire. He emphasized that ending the war ultimately rests with the aggressor, Russia, and President Vladimir Putin.

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It is not up to the victim to end this war. Only the aggressor can end it, simply by stopping fighting, stopping attacks, stopping assaults.

Sikorski outlined two potential strategies for Putin: a risky mobilization or leveraging a harsh winter. The latter, he explained, relies on Russia's hope that destroying Ukraine's energy and heating systems will break the nation's will to fight. "That is why it is so important to supply Ukraine with generators and warm clothing now," Sikorski stated, adding that Poland is preparing to send additional gas supplies.

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One, which is very risky for him, namely (...) to carry out some kind of mobilization. (...) And the second card, which Putin is counting on, because the leaders of Russia have been counting on it for centuries, is a harsh winter, about which he thinks that if he destroys the energy, heating system of Ukraine, it will finally break Ukraine.

"If [Vladimir Putin] does not break the Ukrainians this winter, I think conditions for a ceasefire will emerge," the Polish foreign minister asserted. He recalled that Ukraine once exported gas to Poland, but now Poland must support Ukraine. In 2025, Poland supplied Ukraine with 2.1 billion cubic meters of gas, over 30 percent of its total imports, including American LNG.

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That is why it is so important to supply Ukraine with generators and warm clothing now. Poland is preparing to supply additional quantities of gas. Once Ukraine exported gas to us, now we have to support her.