Von der Leyen, Tusk to hold talks on securing EU eastern border
Photo: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (Getty Images)
On Sunday, August 31, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will hold a meeting at the Polish-Belarusian border, according to Polish Radio.
According to the Polish Prime Minister’s Office, the main topic of talks between Donald Tusk and Ursula von der Leyen will be defense and security, including the protection of the EU’s eastern border and the implementation of the SAFE (Support for Ammunition and Future Equipment) defense program.
The leaders also plan to discuss peace initiatives, security guarantees for Ukraine, and European programs aimed at strengthening the EU’s defense capabilities.
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 9:45 AM local time at the Podlaskie branch of the Border Guard in Krynki (Podlaskie Voivodeship). The agenda includes a briefing with Border Guard and Polish Army commanders, as well as a meeting between delegations.
Afterwards, Tusk and von der Leyen will visit the Polish-Belarusian border zone to inspect storage sites for components of the East Shield system in Krynki, as well as the upgraded border barrier.
Von der Leyen’s visit to Poland is part of a broader tour of seven EU member states bordering the Union’s eastern frontier: Estonia, Lithuania, Finland, Latvia, Poland, Bulgaria, and Romania.
Earlier, Ursula von der Leyen described Russian President Vladimir Putin as a predator already attacking Europe. Following the massive Russian strike on Kyiv on August 28, she held a phone call with US President Donald Trump, after which she stated that Putin must come to the negotiating table.
During the August 28 attack, Russian forces deliberately damaged the building housing the EU delegation in Kyiv. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry stressed that by striking diplomats, Russia directly violated the Vienna Convention.
