English Section
Follow us on Google

Follow us on Google to get our latest news at the top of your search results

Polish PM Tusk visits Ukraine, calls for solidarity

18.09.2026 16:00
Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk called for solidarity with Ukraine during a visit to the war-torn country on Friday, saying that "difficult weeks and months" lie ahead for Kyiv and its allies as Russia steps up its attacks and peace efforts make little progress.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk (right) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (left) meet in Ukraines western Ivano-Frankivsk region on Friday.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk (right) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (left) meet in Ukraine's western Ivano-Frankivsk region on Friday.Photo: PAP/Vladyslav Musiienko

Tusk was welcomed by President Volodymyr Zelensky before joining a summit of the Carpathian Integration Initiative in western Ukraine, where he was also due to meet Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.

The Carpathian Integration Initiative is a new project that aims to strengthen economic, cultural and security cooperation between Kyiv and its Central European neighbours.

Tusk said he had come "mainly to show that Ukraine is not alone" and planned to hold a one-on-one meeting with Zelensky to discuss Poland's participation in an anti-ballistic missile coalition alongside broader bilateral and regional cooperation.

The Polish prime minister told reporters he had heard numerous reports from local residents about intense Russian drone attacks targeting both energy infrastructure and Ukrainian industry.

He described Moscow's campaign against Ukraine's economy as entering "a decisive phase," while saying that hopes for a ceasefire remained uncertain given Russia's continued "aggressive stance."

Tusk also revisited comments made in parliament on Thursday, in which he warned of a real risk that drones or other projectiles could enter NATO's eastern flank and be dismissed as "accidental" to remove any grounds for a response from the alliance.

He said Poland needed to prepare for a range of scenarios, calling the latest concentration of attacks near the Polish border "concerning," while stressing that the country would act cautiously.

According to Tusk, Western allies were also providing intelligence on the situation.

Poland joins anti-ballistic missile coalition

Tusk confirmed on Friday that Poland had formally joined the anti-ballistic missile coalition, formed in July in Paris to build shared European defence capabilities alongside Ukraine and nine other partners.

The Polish Prime Minister's Office said the move would deepen cooperation on new defence technologies and strengthen security for both Poland and its allies.

(ał/gs)

Source: PAP