Tusk at the London peak. “The Polish position gave the mood in the room”

On Sunday in London there was a special peak dedicated Ukrainedefense and security. A dozen or so European leaders were invited to him. He represented Poland Donald Tusk. The President of Ukraine also received the invitation Wołodymyr ZelanskiChairwoman of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Premier Canada Justin Trudeau and the Secretary General NATO Mark Rutte.

Read also: In London about the moment that “happens once every generation”

– Europe has an advantage here, and Russia There is not even a comparison – said Prime Minister Donald Tusk before departure. He argued that “Europe awakened” and understands its global potential.

The head of the Polish government at the conference after the summit said that “we cannot allow” that Friday events in Washington divide Europe.

– The Polish position was exactly the mood in the room and in these most important issues everyone has more or less a similar position. Ukraine requires constant support and as strong as possible before negotiations with Russia. Nobody doubts who the aggressor is, who is the victim and whose side is on this side in this conflict – said Tusk.

The Prime Minister noted that everyone is also convinced that “Europe must take on more and more responsibility” – start to carry these weights related to the construction of the arms industry, increased help for Ukraine during the war, larger expenses within NATO for NATO for its defensive budgets – he mentioned.

The head of the Polish government, reporting the peak in London, said “”Finally, there have been a little brighter declarations as to the readiness to increase national expenditure in terms of the percentage of GDP”

He also mentioned a “very important” voice for him. – he appeared at the beginning of the discussion by no one that no one is in question that The absolute priority for all of Europe, including the European Union, is to strengthen the eastern flank. And this strengthening consisting in financial and infrastructure support. By the Eastern flank, we mean countries that bordered with Russia and Belarus, i.e. in this primarily Poland – Tusk announced.

– The most important thing for us, for Polish security, for European security, for the future of Ukraine is to maintain as close as possible ties with the United States – noted the prime minister.

Tusk emphasized that the turbulent meeting of Trump-Zełenski in the White House cannot divide Europe. – I know that such a narrative is being created now, especially after this very strange Friday, after these events in the White House, which actually had, I think I have such an impression, divide Europe and United States And we can't allow it – he assessed.

The head of the Polish government emphasized the importance of American-European relations. – We observe in an extremely concentrated and vigilant way what the actions of the American administration look like. It is known how much depends on the position of the United States, but fortunately Everyone would like without exception, regardless of emotions, that transatlantic and European-American relations are as strong as possible he said.

– You have to do everything to make Europe and the United States speak with one voice – noted Tusk. He added that Poland and Europe hopefully look at March 6 – when the conversations of European leaders in the matter of Ukraine are to be continued – that it will be “a very clear impulse also indicating Putin and Russia that nobody is going to capituly from the West.

Tusk emphasized that Poland is interested in expanding Europe's defense skills. – For obvious reasons, Poland is historically, emotionally, in connection with the geography and sense of the national interest, the most interested in that Europe is becoming stronger and capable of defensive actions on a scale incomparably greater than at the moment, so as to deter Russia from a possible attack – he said.

– At the same time, not instead, but at the same time, Poland works to maintain the strongest ties with the United States – he added.

Tusk said that during the summit he supported the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, “that Europe and the United States would find a way to continue and very honest discussion and exchange of views.” – So that you understand each other as well as these decisive events that are ahead of us, so I'm talking about negotiations and conversations between Ukraine and Russia – he noted.

Tusk was also asked about future security guarantees for Kiev. – Today it was not a debate. Anyway, I would follow our partners, I did it before at several meetings, so as not to give any false illusions and guarantees, if not everyone is sure that they are able to meet such a challenge, because it would be a great challenge – the prime minister said.

On the occasion of this question, the prime minister repeated the government's earlier declarations that Poland was not going to send troops to Ukraine. – Sorry for maybe too simple wording, but we do not intend to push on the first line of the front. Everyone, as I said many times, understand that. And the President of Ukraine and our partners. Poland bears such high weights – he noted.

Read also: Poland will not send troops to Ukraine. “We perceive our mission differently”

Tusk emphasized that he would focus on strengthening the eastern border of NATO. – Poland is also responsible for the protection of the eastern border. The entire NATO and the entire European Union. And I will engage Poland in a conversation about how to strengthen our border above all – he said.

– This is also a form of help from Ukraine. In fact, Putin, if he sees that the eastern border of the European Union, i.e. the Polish border, are really very protected and have become a priority that there is a lot more equipment here, people, his position will generally be weaker in the context of Ukraine – said the head of government.

The prime minister asked for specific decisions that were taken during the summit, he pointed out that not all EU countries participated in the meeting. In London, there were leaders of the Baltic States with whom the Prime Minister of Great Britain Keir Stermer was to conduct a teleconference on Sunday.

– It was known in advance, and that was also the request of the host of today's meeting, Prime Minister Keira Stermer, so as not to build the illusion that this is a format that has a ticket to make decisions – explained Tusk.

The head of the Polish government also talked about the moods that accompanied the talks in London in connection with the Friday meeting of Trump-Zełenski in Washington. – I don't hide. Many of today's interlocutors emphasized how much impression made a conflict meeting in Washington. Some also did not hide their depression, and at the same time everyone also spoke with one voice in our interest, and in the Polish interest in particular it is in particular to maintain at the highest possible level of cooperation with the American ally – argued the prime minister.

Read also: Europe supports Zelanski. Orban thanked Trump

He also indicated the way to convince the American president. – The best way and we know this, the best way to discourage Putin and other aggressors is to build his own strength and the best way to convince President Trump, that he would want to strengthen cooperation with Europe, and our European strength is not weakened – said Tusk.

– Everyone will want to work with a strong partner during the war crisis, in times of threats. Both people, countries and nations are not so eager to hug the weak – he added.

Tusk admitted that in the matter of the decision about the EU frozen Russian assets “there is no unity of views”. – Everyone knows that it would be good not to freeze the Russian assets, but take over and allocate to defense and rebuild Ukraine. But some are very afraid of some negative consequences. Is it for the euro, for the banking system, so you can not see the enthusiasm for this solution everywhere – he explained.

– We know what the position of Hungary is. Until now, in the last few months, Prime Minister Orban said that he would not extend and at the very end he somehow underwent pressure and agreed to extend the sanctions. As it will be in June, I suspect that Budapest's position will largely depend on the suggestions from Washington – he added.

According to Reuters, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Western countries froze about $ 300-350 billion in Russian assets.

Read also: A new idea on frozen Russian assets

On Friday in Washington, the President of Ukraine Wołodymyr Zelnski met with the President of the USA Donald Trump. The talks were to be a guarantee of security for Kiev and the cooperation of both countries in the operation of raw materials in Ukraine. There was a quarrel between the leaders in the oval office.

Zelanski left the White House without signing a mineral agreement. The leaders did not appear in a joint press conference, and Trump announced in a statement that Zelanski “could come back when he was ready for peace.”

Read also: It was then that Trump finally decided. Backstage of breaking conversations