Polish PM Tusk says Ukraine ready to fight Russia for two to three more years

Tusk said he has no doubt Ukraine will survive as an independent state despite Russia’s aims. The question, he added, is how many more lives will be lost.

"President Zelensky told me that he hopes that the war will not last ten years, but that Ukraine is ready to fight for another two to three years," Tusk said.

The Prime Minister said Ukraine is deeply worried about the human and economic costs if the war continues beyond three years. That, he said, is why Zelenskyy spoke of "two to three years" and no more.

Ukraine has the right to strike Russia where it chooses

Tusk stressed that Ukraine has the right to attack Russian targets anywhere in Europe. He said the war is inflicting major damage on the Russian economy.

The Polish prime minister said Russia’s economy “has no chance” of surviving in the long run. He added that it is already facing problems, particularly after recent US sanctions.

Russians are willing to fight

Tusk warned that domestic instability in Russia could make Russian leader Vladimir Putin more aggressive. He also said there is no certainty that a punitive stance by President Donald Trump toward the Kremlin would remain stable for long.

Despite Russia's severe economic problems, Tusk said Russians have one advantage over Western countries: they are willing to fight.

"They have one big advantage against the West, and Europe especially: they are ready to fight … in wartime, this is absolutely the crucial question. You have no chance to win if you are not ready to fight or at least to sacrifice something," he said.

Chief of Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, warned that Ukrainians should prepare for several years without peace. He said this does not mean constant combat, but a persistent threat that will require readiness at any moment.