Tusk signals what awaits Zelenskyy at Ukraine recovery summit in Poland
Donald Tusk (Photo: Getty Images)
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk hinted that, despite the crisis in relations, he will welcome President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Gdańsk at the International Conference on Ukraine's Recovery. The event is expected to take place on June 25–26, according to a broadcast of the official's press conference.
Tusk emphasized that Zelenskyy is a co-organizer of the event, so the Polish side will welcome everyone who comes.
"Therefore, I don't expect any confirmation here. We will absolutely certainly welcome in Gdańsk those who come: companies, businesses. This is in the interest of both Ukraine and Poland," he said.
The prime minister made it clear that it is important for him that the planned event is successful. The point is that the negotiations will, among other things, address Poland's interests in the reconstruction of Ukraine.
"We'll see how it goes, but so far I have no signals that the Ukrainian side wants to somehow disregard this in its plans," Tusk noted.
The official also commented on the incident the other day, when, amid the crisis in relations between the countries, Zelenskyy's plane flew from Moldova to Britain rather than from Poland as before.
"President Zelenskyy is using other options than Rzeszów, that's all. I am not going to tell him where and how to fly. Rzeszów was not closed," the Polish prime minister said, adding that Poland's aid to Ukraine includes more than just a military component.
What preceded this
At the end of May, it became known that President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded the Special Operations Center "North" the honorary name "Heroes of the UPA" (Ukrainian Insurgent Army).
This decision provoked a sharp reaction in Poland, leading Polish President Karol Nawrocki to suggest that Zelenskyy could be stripped of Poland's highest state honor.
After that, Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Ukrainian side had no intention of offending Poland. They also explained that in Ukrainian society, the UPA is primarily associated with resistance to Russian imperialism and occupation.
Tusk, for his part, called on the leadership of both countries to engage in direct negotiations and not to allow the solidarity between the countries to be undermined amid Russian aggression.
