Polish Prime Minister in Kyiv: Visit details

Tusk in Kyiv: chronicle of events

15:12 Tusk says Poland has joined G7 declaration on guarantees for Ukraine

According to the Prime Minister, Poland has become another country that has joined the G7 Vilnius Declaration on security guarantees for Ukraine.

"Poland has joined the G7 declaration, which aims to mobilize democratic countries in support of Ukraine," the Polish Prime Minister's office wrote on X.

14:41 Results of Zelenskyy's meeting with Tusk

The President of Ukraine said he had held "very productive talks" with the Polish Prime Minister. They covered all aspects of bilateral relations. Zelenskyy also announced a new aid package from the Polish side.

"There is a new Polish defense package. We appreciate this continued assistance. There is a new form of our cooperation for the sake of a larger scale of arms purchases for Ukrainian needs - a Polish loan for Ukraine. Today, we discussed with Mr. Prime Minister the possibilities of future joint arms production. Thank you for supporting Ukraine!" Zelensky wrote.

A joint press conference between Zelenskyy and Tusk has already taken place.

According to Polish media, Zelenskyy touched upon the situation on the border with Poland during his speech.

"We understand what led to this, but we must remember the threat we face. We said that we can solve all the problems at the government level," the President ordered.

In his turn, Tusk, commenting on the fact that it was his first foreign visit as Prime Minister, said "It could not be another capital, it had to be Kyiv."

"The whole of Ukraine is fighting for the security of the entire free world. This is not a slogan. These are not empty words, that the fate of the free world is being decided here," said the head of the Polish government.

Tusk emphasized that there are no disagreements in Poland regarding support for Ukraine.

"We have reached an agreement with Mr. President on the role of Poland, which will fully support Ukraine's rapid accession to the European Union," Tusk said, adding that his government had appointed MP Pawel Kowal as a commissioner for Ukraine's recovery.

"The darkest place in hell is reserved for those who pretend to be neutral during conflicts. Today, everyone in the free world who demonstrates the same position towards Ukraine and Russia deserves the darkest place in hell," Tusk said.

The head of the Polish government noted that Warsaw would be ready to produce equipment and materials for Ukraine.

"We will look for sources of funding together. We will not deviate from commercial principles," Tusk added.

14:07 Meeting with Zelenskyy

The Polish Prime Minister has already met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Donald Tusk posted the photo on X.

Photo: Zelenskyy and Tusk meet in Kyiv (twitter.com/donaldtusk)

13:18 Tusk's first statements in Kyiv

While in Kyiv, the Prime Minister of Poland said that nothing is more important than supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression. He called the issue of fighting the Russian aggressor "number one" and emphasized that he had come to Ukraine also "for Polish security."

Tusk also said that although there are "some conflicts of interest," Poland and Ukraine will work "in a spirit of friendship to resolve any differences as soon as possible."

He emphasized that it was very important for him to "create a feeling that Poland is Ukraine's most reliable ally in this deadly battle against evil."

"I am also in Kyiv for the sake of Polish security. This is not just a matter of Ukraine. This is a security issue for the entire free world, and Poland in particular, at least because of geography," Donald Tusk said.

11:54 Meeting with Prime Minister of Ukraine

The head of the Ukrainian government, Denys Shmyhal, has reported a meeting with his Polish counterpart. They laid flowers at the Wall of Memory of the fallen defenders of Ukraine in the Russian-Ukrainian war on Mykhailivska Square in Kyiv.

09:28 Donald Tusk has arrived in Kyiv

The head of the Polish government reported and published a photo.

Photo: Tusk arrives in Kyiv (twitter.com/donaldtusk)

The program of the visit

The Ukrainian side invited Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk back in December last year. Later, the newly appointed head of the Polish government announced his plans to visit Kyiv. Tusk said he wanted to discuss the blockade of the border with Ukraine.

And today, the office of the Polish Prime Minister officially announced that Tusk is in Kyiv and intends to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.

Tusk and Zelenskyy have already met several times. In particular, in 2019, they traveled together to Stanytsia Luhanska. At that time, Tusk was still heading the European Council.

Relations between Ukraine and Poland

According to the Polish media, the Polish Prime Minister's visit is necessary to start a reset between the two countries. In particular, there was some aggravation between the parties when Polish carriers blockaded the border with Ukraine and because of the ban on imports of Ukrainian grain imposed by Warsaw.

Recently, Polish Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Czeslaw Sekerski said that the ban on grain imports to the country would remain in effect until the relevant rules are developed at the EU level.

However, the Polish government managed to reach a consensus with the protesters on the border blockade. The Polish Ministry of Infrastructure signed an agreement with the carriers, which resulted in the end of the blockade of the checkpoints on the Polish-Ukrainian border by March 1. As early as January 17, traffic at the checkpoint was unblocked for Ukrainian trucks.

Tusk himself, according to media reports, is more interested in discussing strategic relations between Kyiv and Warsaw, so he is visiting Ukraine after the border issue has been conditionally resolved.

Tusk and his attitude to Ukraine

Donald Franciszek Tusk was born on April 22, 1957, in Gdansk. He was already the Prime Minister of Poland in 2007-2014.

In addition, in December 2014, he became the President of the European Council, and in 2017 he was re-elected to this position (until the end of November 2019).

Tusk is the leader of the Polish Civic Platform party.

On December 12, 2023, Tusk was elected head of the Polish government. His election as Prime Minister came after a failed vote of confidence in the previous government of Mateusz Morawiecki, after which, in less than an hour, an additional vote was held for Tusk's candidacy. On the same day, Polish President Andrzej Duda signed a decision to swear in the Council of Ministers, after which other ministers of the new government took the oath.

Since the beginning of the Russian aggression in 2014, Tusk himself has stated that there is a war in Ukraine and called on the whole of Europe to stand up for its ally. He also called sanctions against Russia one of the best ways to support Ukraine.

After he became the head of the Polish government again at the end of 2023, Tusk said that he "will not allow the government to build its position on anti-Ukrainian sentiment." He also believes that Russia may attack Europe in the next few years.