{"id":5662,"date":"2025-03-19T08:15:15","date_gmt":"2025-03-19T08:15:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uutispeili.fi\/?p=5662"},"modified":"2025-03-19T13:19:53","modified_gmt":"2025-03-19T13:19:53","slug":"walesa-to-trump-your-excellency-mr-president","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uutispeili.fi\/index.php\/2025\/03\/19\/walesa-to-trump-your-excellency-mr-president\/","title":{"rendered":"Walesa to Trump: Your Excellency, Mr. President&#8230;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Your Excellency, Mr. President,\u00a0 We watched the report of your conversation with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, with fear and distaste. We find it insulting that you expect Ukraine to show respect and gratitude for the material assistance provided by the United States in its fight against Russia<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Gratitude is owed to the heroic Ukrainian soldiers who shed their blood in defense of the values of the free world. They have been dying on the front lines for more than 11 years in the name of these values and the independence of their homeland, which was attacked by <strong>Putin\u2019s Russia<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2><em>We are shocked that President <strong>Volodymyr Zelensky<\/strong> was treated in the same manner<\/em><\/h2>\n<p>We do not understand how the leader of a country that symbolizes the free world cannot recognize this.<br \/>\nOur alarm was also heightened by the atmosphere in the <em>Oval Office<\/em> during this conversation, which reminded us of the interrogations we endured at the hands of the Security Services and the debates in Communist courts. Prosecutors and judges, acting on behalf of the all-powerful communist political police, would explain to us that they held all the power while we held none. They demanded that we cease our activities, arguing that thousands of innocent people suffered because of us. They stripped us of our freedoms and civil rights because we refused to cooperate with the government or express gratitude for our oppression. We are shocked that President <strong>Volodymyr Zelensky<\/strong> was treated in the same manner.<\/p>\n<p>The history of the 20th century shows that whenever the <strong>United States<\/strong> sought to distance itself from democratic values and its European allies, it ultimately became a threat to itself. President <strong>Woodrow<\/strong> <strong>Wilson<\/strong> understood this when he decided in 1917 that the United States must join World War I. President <strong>Franklin Delano Roosevelt<\/strong> understood this when, after the attack on <strong>Pearl Harbor<\/strong> in December 1941, he resolved that the war to defend America must be fought not only in the Pacific but also in <strong>Europe<\/strong>, in alliance with the nations under attack by the Third Reich.<\/p>\n<h2>USSR &#8211; \u201c<em>Empire of Evil<\/em>\u201d<\/h2>\n<p>We remember that without President <strong>Ronald Reagan<\/strong> and America\u2019s financial commitment, the collapse of the <strong><em>Soviet empire<\/em><\/strong> would not have been possible. President Reagan recognized that millions of enslaved people suffered in Soviet Russia and the countries it had subjugated, including thousands of political prisoners who paid for their defense of democratic values with their freedom. His greatness lay, among other things, in his unwavering decision to call the USSR an \u201c<em>Empire of Evil<\/em>\u201d and to fight it decisively.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>We won, and today, the statue of President Ronald Reagan stands in <strong>Warsaw<\/strong>, facing the <strong>U.S. Embassy<\/strong>.<br \/>\nMr. President, material aid \u2014military and financial\u2014 can never be equated with the blood shed in the name of Ukraine\u2019s independence and the freedom of Europe and the entire free world.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Human life is priceless; its value cannot be measured in money. Gratitude is due to those who sacrifice their blood and their freedom. This is self-evident to us, the people of Solidarity, former political prisoners of the communist regime under Soviet Russia.<\/p>\n<p>We call on the United States to uphold the guarantees made alongside Great Britain in the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, which established a direct obligation to defend Ukraine\u2019s territorial integrity in exchange for its relinquishment of nuclear weapons. These guarantees are unconditional\u2014there is no mention of treating such assistance as an economic transaction.<\/p>\n<p>Signed,<\/p>\n<p>Lech Wa\u0142\u0119sa, former political prisoner, President of Poland<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-5663 size-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/www.uutispeili.fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/puola-vaakuna000transparent-150x150.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Teid\u00e4n ylh\u00e4isyytenne, herra presidentti.<\/p>\n<p>Katsoimme raportin keskustelustanne <strong>Ukraina<\/strong>n presidentin <strong>Volodymyr Zelenskyi<\/strong>n kanssa pelolla ja vastenmielisyydell\u00e4. Meist\u00e4 on loukkaavaa, ett\u00e4 odotatte <strong>Ukraina<\/strong>n osoittavan kunnioitusta ja kiitollisuutta Yhdysvaltojen antamasta aineellisesta avusta Ven\u00e4j\u00e4n vastaisessa taistelussa. Kiitollisuus on velkaa ukrainalaisille sankarillisille sotilaille, jotka vuodattivat verta puolustaakseen vapaan maailman arvoja. He ovat kuolleet etulinjassa yli 11 vuotta n\u00e4iden arvojen ja kotimaansa itsen\u00e4isyyden nimiss\u00e4, johon Putinin Ven\u00e4j\u00e4 hy\u00f6kk\u00e4si.<\/p>\n<p>Emme ymm\u00e4rr\u00e4, miten vapaata maailmaa symboloivan maan johtaja ei voi tunnistaa t\u00e4t\u00e4.<br \/>\nH\u00e4lytyst\u00e4mme korosti my\u00f6s Ovaalitoimiston ilmapiiri t\u00e4ss\u00e4 keskustelussa, joka muistutti meit\u00e4 turvallisuuspalvelun k\u00e4siss\u00e4 k\u00e4ymist\u00e4mme kuulusteluista ja kommunististen tuomioistuimien keskusteluista.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Syytt\u00e4j\u00e4t ja tuomarit, jotka toimivat kaikkivoivan <strong><em>kommunistisen poliittisen poliisin<\/em><\/strong> puolesta, selitt\u00e4isiv\u00e4t meille, ett\u00e4 heill\u00e4 oli kaikki valta, vaikka meill\u00e4 ei ollut sit\u00e4. He vaativat meit\u00e4 lopettamaan toimintamme ja v\u00e4ittiv\u00e4t, ett\u00e4 tuhannet viattomat ihmiset k\u00e4rsiv\u00e4t meid\u00e4n takiamme.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2><em>Olemme j\u00e4rkyttyneit\u00e4 siit\u00e4, ett\u00e4 presidentti Volodymyr Zelensky\u00e4 kohdeltiin samalla tavalla<\/em><\/h2>\n<p>He riistiv\u00e4t meilt\u00e4 vapautemme ja kansalaisoikeutemme, koska kielt\u00e4ydyimme yhteisty\u00f6st\u00e4 hallituksen kanssa tai ilmaisemasta kiitollisuutta sorrostamme. Olemme j\u00e4rkyttyneit\u00e4 siit\u00e4, ett\u00e4 presidentti Volodymyr Zelensky\u00e4 kohdeltiin samalla tavalla.<\/p>\n<p>1900-luvun historia osoittaa, ett\u00e4 aina kun <strong>Yhdysvallat<\/strong> yritti ottaa et\u00e4isyytt\u00e4 demokraattisiin arvoihin ja eurooppalaisiin liittolaisiinsa, siit\u00e4 tuli lopulta uhka itselleen. Presidentti <strong>Woodrow Wilson<\/strong> ymm\u00e4rsi t\u00e4m\u00e4n p\u00e4\u00e4tt\u00e4ess\u00e4\u00e4n vuonna 1917 Yhdysvaltojen liittyv\u00e4n ensimm\u00e4iseen maailmansotaan. Presidentti <strong>Franklin<\/strong> <strong>Delano Roosevelt<\/strong> ymm\u00e4rsi t\u00e4m\u00e4n, kun <strong>Pearl Harbor<\/strong>iin joulukuussa 1941 tehdyn hy\u00f6kk\u00e4yksen j\u00e4lkeen h\u00e4n p\u00e4\u00e4tti, ett\u00e4 Amerikan puolustamista koskevaa sotaa on k\u00e4yt\u00e4v\u00e4 Tyynenmeren lis\u00e4ksi my\u00f6s <strong>Euroopassa<\/strong> liitossa kolmannen valtakunnan hy\u00f6kk\u00e4yksen kohteena olevien maiden kanssa.<\/p>\n<p>Muistamme, ett\u00e4 ilman presidentti <strong>Ronald Reagan<\/strong>ia ja Amerikan taloudellista sitoutumista neuvostoimperiumin romahtaminen ei olisi ollut mahdollista. Presidentti Reagan my\u00f6nsi, ett\u00e4 miljoonat orjuutetut ihmiset k\u00e4rsiv\u00e4t Neuvosto-Ven\u00e4j\u00e4ll\u00e4 ja sen alistamissa maissa, mukaan lukien tuhannet poliittiset vangit, jotka maksoivat vapaudellaan demokraattisten arvojen puolustamisesta.<\/p>\n<p>H\u00e4nen suuruutensa oli muun muassa h\u00e4nen horjumattomassa p\u00e4\u00e4t\u00f6ksess\u00e4\u00e4n kutsua Neuvostoliittoa &#8221;<em>pahan valtakunnaksi<\/em>&#8221; ja taistella sit\u00e4 vastaan p\u00e4\u00e4tt\u00e4v\u00e4isesti. Me voitimme, ja t\u00e4n\u00e4\u00e4n presidentti Ronald Reaganin patsas seisoo Varsovassa <strong>Yhdysvaltain suurl\u00e4hetyst\u00f6n<\/strong> edess\u00e4.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Arvoisa presidentti, aineellista apua \u2014 sotilaallista ja taloudellista \u2014 ei voi koskaan rinnastaa Ukrainan itsen\u00e4isyyden ja Euroopan ja koko vapaan maailman vapauden nimiss\u00e4 vuodatettuun vereen.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2><em>Kiitollisuutemme kuuluu niille, jotka uhraavat verens\u00e4 ja vapautensa<\/em><\/h2>\n<p>Ihmisel\u00e4m\u00e4 on korvaamaton; sen arvoa ei voi mitata rahassa. Kiitollisuus kuuluu niille, jotka uhraavat verens\u00e4 ja vapautensa. T\u00e4m\u00e4 on itsest\u00e4\u00e4n selv\u00e4\u00e4 meille Solidaarisuuden kansalle, Neuvosto-Ven\u00e4j\u00e4n kommunistihallinnon entisille poliittisille vangeille.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Kehotamme Yhdysvaltoja pit\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n kiinni <strong>Ison-Britannian<\/strong> rinnalla vuonna 1994 <strong>Budapestin p\u00f6yt\u00e4kirjassa<\/strong> annetuista takuista, joissa asetettiin suora velvollisuus puolustaa Ukrainan alueellista koskemattomuutta vastineeksi ydinaseista luopumisesta. N\u00e4m\u00e4 takuut ovat ehdottomia \u2013 niiss\u00e4 ei mainita, ett\u00e4 t\u00e4llaista apua pidet\u00e4\u00e4n taloudellisena liiketoimena.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Allekirjoitettu<\/p>\n<p>Lech Wa\u0142\u0119sa, entinen poliittinen vanki, Puolan presidentti<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-5663 size-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/www.uutispeili.fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/puola-vaakuna000transparent-150x150.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2025\/mar\/03\/polish-ex-president-lech-walesa-expresses-horror-and-distaste-at-donald-trump-volodymyr-zelenskyy-jd-vance-spat\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Guardian<\/a> 03.03. 2025,<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"SvVhFWVtqn\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uutispeili.fi\/index.php\/2025\/03\/18\/silent-leges-inter-arma-lait-vaikenevat-aseet-puhuvat\/\">&#8217;Silent leges inter arma&#8217;, -lait vaikenevat, aseet puhuvat<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8221;&#8217;Silent leges inter arma&#8217;, -lait vaikenevat, aseet puhuvat&#8221; &#8212; \" src=\"https:\/\/www.uutispeili.fi\/index.php\/2025\/03\/18\/silent-leges-inter-arma-lait-vaikenevat-aseet-puhuvat\/embed\/#?secret=AkFrs01IKP#?secret=SvVhFWVtqn\" data-secret=\"SvVhFWVtqn\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Your Excellency, Mr. President,\u00a0 We watched the report of your conversation with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, with fear and distaste. We find it insulting that you expect Ukraine to show respect and gratitude for the material assistance provided by the United States in its fight against Russia. Gratitude is owed to the heroic [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":5667,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33,165,127],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uutispeili.fi\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5662"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uutispeili.fi\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uutispeili.fi\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uutispeili.fi\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uutispeili.fi\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5662"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.uutispeili.fi\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5662\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5670,"href":"https:\/\/www.uutispeili.fi\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5662\/revisions\/5670"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uutispeili.fi\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5667"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uutispeili.fi\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5662"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uutispeili.fi\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5662"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uutispeili.fi\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5662"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}