Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen correspondent: A series of Israeli airstrikes targeted areas southwest of Gaza City.
Hamas Gaza chief Al-Hayya: We extend our deep appreciation to those who shared our blood and battle with us from our nation in Yemen, Lebanon, Iraq, and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Hamas Gaza chief Al-Hayya: We extend our great appreciation to those who stood in solidarity with us from among the free people around the world.
Hamas Gaza chief Al-Hayya: We received guarantees from mediators and the US administration that the war is completely over.
Hamas Gaza chief Al-Hayya: 250 prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment and 1,700 prisoners from the Gaza Strip will be released.
Hamas Gaza chief Al-Hayya: Today, we announce an agreement to end the war and aggression against our people and to begin implementing a permanent ceasefire.
Iran works on peace now, Tehran supports Gaza deal: Trump
Trump says he will be going to Egypt to attend the ceasefire signing ceremony.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli occupation forces bombing the Gaza Strip
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Ceasefire in Gaza takes effect

Poland drops WWII reparations demand from Germany, focuses on Russia

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 23 Oct 2024 23:23
3 Min Read

Sikorski pointed out that both NATO member states should focus on the future, since "we and Germany are allies and, for example, we need each other to fend off Russian missiles [deployed in Russia’s Kaliningrad Region] or Russian submarines in the Baltic Sea."

Listen
  • x
  • Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski speaks during a news conference with U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, in Warsaw, Poland, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. (AP)
    Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski speaks during a news conference with U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, in Warsaw, Poland, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. (AP)

Poland will not demand that Germany pay reparations for crimes committed by the Nazis during World War II, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski has stated on Wednesday.

Warsaw and Berlin are now allies, especially when it comes to deterring the threat they see posed by Russia, the diplomat said.

Under the previous right-wing government led by the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, Poland repeatedly brought up the issue of war reparations with Germany.

In 2022, Warsaw estimated that Berlin would need to shell out PLN 6.2 trillion (around $1.5 trillion) in compensation for damages inflicted by the Nazi occupation.

Appearing on Poland’s TVP Info channel on Tuesday, Sikorski said, "We’re not talking about reparations, but rather a gesture showing that the Germans feel that they are morally responsible for what they did to us."

According to the minister, "the ball is now in Germany’s court," with the onus on them to "offer a creative decision." He suggested that the neighboring country could take care of the remaining survivors of the Nazi occupation of Poland and erect a memorial in Berlin to commemorate the tragic events.

Sikorski pointed out that both NATO member states should focus on the future, since "we and Germany are allies and, for example, we need each other to fend off Russian missiles [deployed in Russia’s Kaliningrad Region] or Russian submarines in the Baltic Sea."

Related News

China to showcase hypersonic weapons at WWII anniversary parade

2024 records highest number of global conflicts since WWII: The Times

Read more: Poland's government asked Germany for €1.3 trillion in war reparations

Targeting Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly rejected the idea that Moscow has any plans to attack NATO, calling such speculation "nonsense."

The Kremlin also says it has been forced to beef up its defenses along its Western border as more countries in Eastern Europe have joined the bloc.

Back in February, Sikorski acknowledged that "unfortunately, reparations [from Germany] cannot be obtained."

Around the same time, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk made it clear that "in the formal, legal and international sense, the issue of reparations was closed many years ago."

Read more: Poland, Germany should negotiate reparations: US WW2 Veteran

Berlin maintains that the matter was resolved when Warsaw waived its right to restitution in 1953 under a deal with East Germany, and that the issue was definitively settled under a 1990 treaty on German reunification.

In February, the Polish foreign minister further argued that following World War II, it was agreed that Poland would receive 15% of reimbursements to which the USSR was entitled. The diplomat accused Moscow of “taking it away.”

Commenting on Warsaw’s claim, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov described it as more evidence of Poland’s "frenzied Russophobia."

  • World War II
  • Poland
  • WWII
  • war reparations
  • Germany
  • reparations
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Most Read

Tucker Carlson speaks at a memorial for Charlie Kirk, Sunday, September 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (AP)

Tucker Carlson: Israeli officers gave orders on Iran inside Pentagon

  • Politics
  • 2 Oct 2025
A Hamas fighter in combat fatigues stands before the ceremony for the handover of Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Saturday, February 22, 2025 (AP)

Hamas responds to Trump plan, backs Gaza withdrawal, exchange

  • Politics
  • 3 Oct 2025
Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder revealed

Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder exposed

  • Politics
  • 5 Oct 2025
The Palestinian resistance and the people of Gaza showed that after combating Israeli aggression for two years, they remain victorious in the face of oppression (Mahdi Rteil/Al Mayadeen English)

Al-Aqsa Flood two years on, a tale of victory

  • Politics
  • 6 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
In Five

Read Next

All
ap
Politics

Mistrust paralyzes Washington as shutdown drags on for 9th day

Senate rejects bid to curb Trump’s military power in Caribbean
Politics

Senate rejects bid to curb Trump’s military power in Caribbean

ap
Politics

UN to slash peacekeeping operations as US funding cuts take effect

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, right, applauds after delivering a speech at the Spanish parliament in Madrid, Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Politics

Spain passes decree formalizing full arms embargo on 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS