"If I could advise President Zelensky on anything, it would be to return to the negotiating table and seek an agreement," Duda said at a press conference.
Duda commented on Zelensky's recent visit to Washington, where the Ukrainian leader's demeanor in the Oval Office was, according to the Polish president, the most "sharp and emotional" ever witnessed in such a setting.
The US administration has signaled its desire to expedite peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.
On Monday, the White House suspended all military aid to Ukraine to "ensure it contributes to resolving the conflict," according to reports.
In an interview with Polish broadcaster TVN24, Duda was asked whether he was alarmed by what was described as Trump's "below-the-belt" tactics to force Ukrainian concessions. He dismissed the notion of being "terrified."
"I wouldn’t use that word. I believe this is part of a very tough negotiation strategy," Duda said.
He also noted uncertainty surrounding Trump's interactions with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"We have no insight into those conversations ... We don’t really know what is happening there," Duda said, adding that a potential pressure tactic involved lowering commodity prices, as global oil prices—Russia’s key revenue source—have been declining.
"Let's approach this calmly and wait to see the results of President Donald Trump's policy," Duda told reporters. "Right now, there's a lot of noise and accusations, but also behaviors in the White House that have never been seen before."
His remarks followed last week’s tense meeting between Trump and Zelensky, which centered on a proposed US-Ukraine partnership for mineral resource extraction.
The talks ended in a dispute, with Zelensky leaving the White House without signing the deal. Trump accused him of adopting a confrontational stance that risked escalating the war and of showing a lack of gratitude toward the United States.
On Sunday, Zelensky stated he was now willing to sign the agreement and expressed hope of restoring relations with Trump.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Tuesday that Kyiv was ready to finalize the deal "at any moment."
(jh/gs)
Source: PAP