'We cannot be suckers!' - Poland's Sikorski questions US motives, admits Ukraine has 'lot of work to do' on corruption, transparency

"Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski questioned the 'changing' landscape of US foreign policy under the Trump administration during a speech to parliament in Warsaw on Thursday. "Unfortunately, relations between the US and Europe have deteriorated. This is a particular challenge for Poland,” he stated. “But it is not Europe that issues territorial claims, imposes arbitrary tariffs, or interferes in party competition across the Atlantic," the minister said. “We do not define the national interest of the United States,” Sikorski continued. “Can we be certain that the interests of the United States will be identical with Poland's? We have been and will be a loyal ally of America. But we cannot be suckers.” The Polish diplomat also touched on Ukraine's ongoing battle against corruption, admitting that Kiev needs to do a 'lot of work' to meet 'EU standards'. "We are, of course, aware of the problems of the modernisation of Ukraine. Adapting to EU standards, improving the functioning of the state, transparency of administration, and eradicating corruption," Sikorski said. "Ukrainians still have a lot of work ahead of them. This arises from the obligation to implement the association agreement. We know this and want to help, remembering how much effort the same processes required from us," he added. His remarks come as Ukraine continues to face corruption scandals that have shaken senior leadership circles, including controversies in the energy sector that contributed to the departure of several close allies of President Zelensky, including the all-powerful chief of staff, Andrey Yermak."