‘I’ll be satisfied when we win the war,’ Polish foreign minister says of communique

Poland's Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, left, speaks with the Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces Wieslaw Kukula, right, before the National Security Council gathering in Warsaw, Poland, on July 8. 

Aleksander Kalka/NurPhoto/Getty Images

“I’ll be satisfied when we win the war,” Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski said Wednesday when asked by CNN if he’s satisfied by the language of the joint communique.

Asked if by CNN if Ukraine’s irreversible path to NATO is actually irreversible, Sikorski quipped, “Inshallah.”

How strong of language to use in the communique, which must have consensus from all 32 NATO allies, was a point of contention in the negotiations. Initially, the US was opposed to the use of the word “irreversible,” but changed its position as long as it made clear that the path was contingent on Ukraine completing necessary reforms.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken addressed the matter earlier on Wednesday and acknowledged differences between the 32 NATO allies about the language of the joint communique but suggested that was to be expected.

“This is a democratic alliance and alliance of democratic countries. Different countries have slightly different views on some of these issues. And part of our responsibility is to proceed with consensus,” he said at the NATO public forum. “The greatest strength that we have, the most valuable currency we have as an alliance is our unity. But that unity doesn’t just happen. It’s the product of conversation. It’s the product of listening.”