X-Captive Nations Alliance Gains Momentum – The Lublin Triangle

One of the mainstay themes of my blog, The Torn Curtain 1991, has been the necessity for the former captive nations of Russian subjugation to form a multilateral alliance for their common security, stability and development in the face of Moscow’s enduring aggression.

I wrote about this from a variety of angles including building such a bloc among non-governmental organizations of their respective countries affiliated at the United Nations. At the time I suggested that their civil society representatives and the appropriate member-states’ permanent missions form such a coalition along the lines of the much-discussed UN Sustainable Development Goals. The 17 principles and 140-plus subtexts discuss more than just environmental issues. Human rights are included in the goals.

I had also cited an interview with Pavlo Klimkin, when he was minister of foreign affairs of Ukraine, who advocated the creation of such a far-reaching bloc. Outraged by the Russian invasion of his homeland, Klimkin suggested soon after President Petro Poroshenko’s visit to Canada and the United States the creation of a Coalition of Freedom to defend democracy and Western values in a troubled world.

“It is about security for everyone,” Klimkin had said during an exclusive Fox News interview on the eve of the 71^st UN General Assembly in 2016. “If someone in this interchangeable and intertwined world cannot feel secure, how can US citizens here feel secure?”

Klimkin explained that Ukraine is confronting – and still is – a threat any nation can face, adding “we need a network of security.” His Coalition of Freedom would consist of “countries which are committed to freedom, to democratic values, where we are not talking about spheres of influence, but the values and real interests of democratic countries.” Indeed, his theme fits today’s dangerous global agenda, especially that faced by the former captive nations.

In a recent blogpost I welcomed the formation of a special brigade composed of soldiers from Ukraine, Lithuania and Poland as a major step forward in developing such an alliance that will defend the former captive nations from any belligerent action by Russia meant to reestablish its domination of Ukraine, the Baltic States, the remainder of Eastern Europe and beyond. Three x-captive nations, Ukraine, Lithuania and Poland, have transformed this worthy idea into practice with the mobilization of the “Hetman Konstantyn Ostrohskiy” Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian Brigade (LITPOLUKR) – https://litpolukrbrig.wp.mil.pl/en/ . Russia invading the captive nations is not as farfetched a notion as some may claim because in the past six years Moscow proved its overt mission is to rebuild the holy Russian empire and establish tight control of the nations in its near abroad.

Finally, it has come to light that five days ago, on July 28, this idea began to gel. In the Polish city of Lublin, where the tripartite brigade is stationed, the foreign ministers of Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine met and signed a document acknowledging the importance of such a nascent formation. The three countries officials’ acknowledged the ongoing Russian war against Ukraine and the military occupation of Crimea.

The following is the text of their joint declaration that appeared on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine:

Lublin, 28 July 2020

Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, Republic of Lithuania and Ukraine recognize the multi-centennial historical and cultural links between their nations.

They also recognize the benefits of creating even stronger political, economic, infrastructure, security, defense and cultural links between their countries in contemporary world.

They draw attention to the activities of Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine in the process of shaping the modern political, cultural and social realities of Central Europe.

At the same time, they underline the strategic importance of intensified cooperation between the European Union, NATO and Eastern Partnership countries and pay due attention to the functioning of the Three Seas Initiative.

They note with due attention common threats in security area as well as in others, i.e. pandemic threats.

They underline the important role of dialog between the three countries in the parliamentary dimension, especially within the Parliamentary Assembly Poland-Lithuania-Ukraine.

They recognize the benefits of their trilateral cooperation in the security sphere, in particular functioning of the Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian Brigade (LitPolUkrBrig).

Taking into account the ongoing Russian aggression in Ukraine, they commit to coordinating their activities in order to uphold the international law, both through trilateral cooperation and within international organizations (NATO, European Union, United Nations, Council of Europe, OSCE).

They declare invariably their strong condemnation of the attempted annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol by the Russian Federation. They do not recognize it and will never do it. They also call upon Russian Federation to withdraw its troops from the parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine.

They reaffirm their unwavering support to Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders and call upon Russian Federation to stop its aggression against Ukraine, as well as its temporary occupation of Ukraine’s territories of Crimea and parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine.

They reiterate their firm support for the European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations of Ukraine and welcome its European choice.

They note with satisfaction granting of NATO Enhanced Opportunities Partner status to Ukraine. They support Ukraine’s aspirations to NATO membership. Providing Ukraine with the NATO Membership Action Plan should be the next step to this direction.

They recommit to deepening and broadening of Polish-Lithuanian-Ukrainian military-to-military cooperation, both through bilateral and trilateral activities and by making full use of possibilities created by NATO.

They reaffirm the unwavering commitment to the development of the Eastern Partnership by broadening and deepening cooperation and proposing ambitious and strategic long-term goals.

They commit to providing mutual support in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

They envisage active actions aiming at promoting trade and investments, securing better access to regional infrastructure and improving its quality by stepping up with ambitious projects promoting cohesion in the region.

They support the cooperation of Ukraine with the Three Seas Initiative, as well as cooperation within other regional formats.

They support the effective implementation of political-economic reforms in Ukraine, taking into account Polish and Lithuanian experiences and best practices worked out in cooperation with other European countries.

They commit to strengthening people-to-people contacts and civil society cooperation, including between scientists and experts.

In order to ensure achieving the above-mentioned goals the Ministers decide to create a trilateral platform for political economic and social cooperation between the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Lithuania and Ukraine – Lublin Triangle.

The Ministers decide to organize their regular meetings, also in the margins of multilateral sessions and with the participation of chosen partners.

They also decide to organize consultations of high-level MFA officials and establish liaison-officers within the Ministries of Foreign Affairs.

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This document is by far the most important political document concluded in the post-World War II era. It recognizes the ongoing threat that Russia poses to global and regional peace, security and development. It also declares that three captive nations – Ukraine, Lithuania and Poland – acknowledge their common fate and the need to stand shoulder to shoulder in their defense against Moscow’s belligerence.

The Lublin Triangle, if properly developed, expanded with additional x-captive nations, and supported by the free world, has the potential of becoming an historic alliance that will bring peace to the region and world by curbing Russia’s aggression and imperialism.