Polish president says Russia breaks taboo by invading Ukraine

President Andrzej Duda said by invading Ukraine, Russia broke the taboo of a hard security border that has existed in Europe since World War II.

The president was speaking at a ceremony in the Polish capital on Monday, marking Armed Forces Day. On August 15 there will be an annual celebration commemorating Poland's victory over the Red Army in the 1920 Battle of Warsaw.

The main celebrations took place at noon on Pilsudskiego Square in central Warsaw, with leading figures attending a ceremonial change of guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the presence of the president.

Since World War II, Russia and the Russian regime have broken the Great taboo, which has been a hard security border where no power launches a frontal attack on another country in order to take away its freedom and independence, Duda said at the ceremony.

According to him, the scale of Russian frontal aggression against Ukraine was hard to imagine, against an independent, sovereign, democratic state, against our neighbour. I have no doubts that it exceeded what some people expected, and for some it was a total surprise, Duda said.

He thanked Poles for the help they have provided to Ukraine and its citizens.

I thank you with all my heart that we are part of this through the help we provide to Ukraine and Ukrainians, through the service of our soldiers throughout this conflict, through the support that our allies give to us, and to Ukraine above all, through the support of our allies, said Duda.