After extensive talks in Berlin, the Presidents of Poland and Germany, Andrzej Duda and Frank-Walter Steinmeier, attempted to put recent tensions between the two countries into perspective by demonstrating openness and friendliness.

Johannes Leithauser

Political correspondent in Berlin.

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Duda extensively praised Germany's willingness to deploy Patriot anti-aircraft batteries in Poland, which had initially been rebuffed by ruling PiS party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski.

The Polish President also distanced himself from the Polish government's claims for compensation, which a government commission had added up to more than one trillion euros;

a claim for compensation had been registered as a diplomatic note to the federal government.

After meeting Steinmeier in Berlin, Duda said that the election campaign for the re-election of the state parliament had already begun in Poland, which was causing "tensions and heated discussions".

However, it is important in such moments that there are "government bodies" that "do not take part in such discussions".

The German Federal President and he as Polish President are such institutions, Duda continued.

He said, "Not all voices are the voices we want to hear."

"Our role is stability"

Duda went on to say that it was the duty of the two presidents to "build good relations between our countries".

Steinmeier and he are both non-partisan and stand for a policy that they could one day responsibly pass on to their successors.

Duda said: "Our role is stability." There is "no doubt that we want to realize this role as well as possible".

Steinmeier also emphasized the close connection with Duda and took it as proof of stable, good relations with Poland.

Steinmeier said that he and Duda "promised to each other" six years ago at the beginning of their terms of office that they wanted to see it as their task to build "a stable personal bridge" between the two countries, "above everyday issues".

Contribution to the protection of the eastern flank

Steinmeier extensively praised Poland's position in agreeing to the deployment of Patriot missiles after all;

this would also strengthen NATO's overall readiness to defend itself.

Germany is already making a significant contribution to protecting the alliance's eastern flank;

Poland's security is also important for Germany.

Steinmeier eloquently acknowledged the importance of the Polish President's visit;

it shows "very, very, very clearly" that Germany and Poland are "close and important partners", they are and will remain "friends and neighbors in the European Union".

During their meeting, the two presidents discussed in detail the situation in Ukraine and the consequences of Russia's destruction of Ukrainian infrastructure.

Duda said there were currently three million Ukrainian refugees in Poland;

the Russian destruction would probably result in “the number of refugees also increasing in Germany”.

He suggested that Berlin and Warsaw should jointly approach the EU to obtain more financial support for the costs of accommodating the refugees.

He looked ahead to Ukraine's reconstruction and demanded that Russia ultimately bear all the costs.

Duda also expressed his satisfaction that, with regard to the assessment of the dangers emanating from the regime of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the German side subsequently agreed with the Polish skepticism.

"Thank you for the German voices praising Poland that the warnings about Russia were justified," he said.