This week, Lech Walesa, the former President of Poland, traveled to Washington D.C. to advocate for increased military assistance to Ukraine. The 80-year-old former labor leader and Nobel Prize winner stated that the U.S. and the global community have a special chance to support political reform in Russia.

Lech Walesa, the recipient of the 1983 Nobel Peace Prize, stated that it is crucial for the world to continue supplying military assistance to Ukraine due to ongoing Russian aggression towards the Ukrainian people.

He stated that a greater amount of resources should be allocated towards persuading individuals that peace is preferable to war.

This interview has been modified to improve understanding and reduce length.

What is the message you wish to convey to the citizens of America and to Congress?

Lech Walesa, former President of Poland, stated that the main focus of this visit is Ukraine. He emphasized the suffering of Ukraine and the need for global assistance.

In 1989, the Solidarity movement triumphed over communist control in Poland. Was the struggle at that time different from Ukraine’s current battle against Russia?

Lech Walesa: Throughout history, the world has been divided, but with its growth, its structures have also grown. However, only Russia and China have held onto traditional methods. These two countries are trying to expand their structures through force, while we choose to voluntarily enlarge our organizations like the European Union and NATO. The question I ask is, which approach will prevail now – the old or the new? We should rely less on power and force and instead use more information. Our disagreements should be resolved peacefully through actions and words, rather than through military action.

In the past, there were doubts about Ukraine’s ability to withstand the Russian army. Were you surprised by Ukraine’s reaction to the invasion?

Walesa: Ukraine was placed in front of an imperative. Courageous nation. We’ve known that, just because we used to fight with them, too. But such conflicts in the past proved to us that those were bad methods. Which is why, like brothers in solidarity with Ukraine, we act.

According to VOA, Poland has been a strong ally of Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale war. Despite some tensions in political statements last year, what is your assessment of the current state of Ukrainian-Polish relations?

Walesa: It’s difficult to avoid conflicts when hosting a large number of guests. However, compared to the magnitude of the refugee crisis we are facing, our conflicts are minimal. Poland was fortunate to join the European Union and avoid potential conflict with Russia. As a result, we have a deeper appreciation for Ukraine and its current role in the situation.

Is the West taking sufficient action to ensure Ukraine’s victory in this war and Russia’s defeat?

Reworded: Walesa believes that the Solidarity movement demonstrated a successful method for achieving victory. He suggests that instead of resorting to war, we should use information policies to win arguments. However, he also acknowledges the importance of supporting military methods, as the Russians are currently attacking Ukrainians. Therefore, the fight for justice and freedom must persist.

However, it is necessary to allocate additional resources to persuade individuals that peace is preferable to conflict. We must document all the losses incurred by Russia in war. Furthermore, we must communicate directly with the neighbors of these casualties and convey the message, “Your neighbor has lost their life. You could be next. And in the future, your own child could also perish due to the shortcomings of your system.”

Despite Ukraine potentially winning and defeating Russia in the present, Russia will eventually regain power and launch another attack within the next two decades. However, if we assist the Russians in transforming their political system, they will no longer pose a threat to us. This is a unique chance for a major victory, as Putin has successfully united the world against Russia. Therefore, our victory will not be achieved through military force, but rather through political means.

During the era of Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev, you cautioned the West to proceed with caution when negotiating with Russia. What is your message now for those who are contemplating negotiations with Russia in order to end the conflict in Ukraine and potentially cede territories?

Walesa stated that coercing Ukraine into certain solutions will not resolve the problem. He referenced a similar situation with Hitler and emphasized the need to stop Russia. While using force may be necessary in the present, there should also be a focus on communication and information strategy in the long term. Forcing Ukraine to make concessions or relinquish land at this time would be a grave error.

This interview was conducted by VOA’s Ukrainian Service.

Source: voanews.com