WARSAW (Reuters) – Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk has announced that Poland will not be dispatching troops to Ukraine. This statement came as Tusk embarked on a journey to Paris for an urgent summit aimed at discussing Europe’s potential involvement in any ceasefire efforts. Prior to this, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer became the first European leader to express readiness to deploy peacekeeping forces to Ukraine.
Tusk clarified Poland’s stance, stating, “Poland will continue to support Ukraine, as it has done thus far, through organizational means, within the constraints of our financial capabilities, and by providing humanitarian and military assistance.” He made these remarks to journalists before departing for Paris, adding, “We do not currently have plans to send Polish soldiers to Ukraine or any other country that may seek such physical assurances in the future.”
In light of recent uncertainties following a week of upheaval that has raised doubts about Washington’s support and the potential for a peace agreement between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin that could jeopardize Ukraine’s security and that of broader Europe, Tusk cautioned against questioning Europe’s partnership with the United States. He stressed the importance of a united front, emphasizing the need for close collaboration between Poland, Ukraine, the European Union, the United States, and other European nations like Great Britain and Norway. Tusk underscored that there should be no division between supporting the European Union or the United States, asserting that both are integral.
Regarding the prospect of establishing an alternative to the NATO military alliance, Tusk suggested that now is not the time for such considerations. He urged countries offering security guarantees to Ukraine to ensure they are capable of fulfilling these commitments. Tusk emphasized the necessity for increased investment in defense capabilities, declaring, “We must demonstrate our readiness to make substantial investments in our defense systems.” He expressed his intention to inquire with fellow prime ministers about their preparedness to make tangible decisions.
(Reporting by Alan Charlish, Pawel Florkiewicz, Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
