Poland's President Likens Putin To Adolf Hitler: 'Talks Are Useless'

Poland’s President Andrzej Duda recently blasted the leaders of France and Germany for having one-on-one phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who he likened to Nazi’s Adolf Hitler.

Speaking in an interview with German newspaper Bild, Duda said holding talks with Putin only legitimized the war crimes committed by Russian leaders currently invading Ukraine. He later argued that no world leader held talks with Hitler when he invaded Poland in 1939, an event that triggered the start of World War II.

"I'm amazed at all the talks that are being held with Putin at the moment. By Chancellor Scholz, by President Emmanuel Macron. These talks are useless," Duda said in the interview.

"Did anyone talk to Adolf Hitler like that during WWII? Did someone say Adolf Hitler had to save face? That we should proceed in a way that is not demeaning to Adolf Hitler? I have not heard such voices."

The Polish president also urged Europe and other nations to not be afraid of Russia’s threats — an apparent reference to the Kremlin warning world leaders of a possible nuclear attack should they continue to help Ukraine amid the war.

"If we are afraid of Russian nuclear weapons, we should all surrender at once," Duda added. "One should not be afraid of threats from Russia, because they will try in all possible ways to threaten us. I know how they work."

President Duda’s interview comes after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron held one-on-one phone calls with Putin. Macron, in particular, drew backlash after he argued that Russia must not be humiliated over the invasion and said it was vital for Putin to have a way out of his "fundamental error."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later blasted Macron’s remarks and his understanding of the international accords and prisoner exchange agreements that Russia chose to breach repeatedly.

Putin in February launched what he described as a "special military operation" to demilitarize and "de-Nazify" Ukraine. As of Wednesday, the conflict is estimated to have killed a total of 4,302 residents and forced more than 12 million Ukrainians to flee their homes.