Tusk said Poland had received an initial payment of EUR 6.5 billion, describing the rollout of the programme as proceeding at an "impressive pace."
The payment comes as the government finalizes a series of contracts with Polish defence companies financed through the EU's Security Action for Europe (SAFE) programme, which provides low-interest loans to strengthen the bloc's defence capabilities.
Poland, the largest beneficiary of the programme, is eligible for EUR 43.7 billion in funding and has submitted 139 projects for support.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz announced the signing of additional SAFE-funded contracts worth PLN 2 billion (EUR 470 million, USD 550 million) on Friday during a visit to the Belma plant in the north-central city of Bydgoszcz.
"We have no time to lose," Kosiniak-Kamysz said. "Every second, every minute, every hour and every day are worth their weight in gold, because our security is priceless."
Under EU rules, to benefit from SAFE funding, a single country must sign purchase agreements by May 30. Purchases made after this date must involve at least two participating countries.
Tusk said on Thursday that around 40 contracts worth a combined PLN 100 billion would be concluded under SAFE by the deadline.
The latest Polish procurement agreements include deliveries of anti-tank mines, remotely controlled explosive systems and mine-laying equipment intended for Poland's armed forces and the government's Eastern Shield border fortification programme, state news agency PAP reported.
One contract, worth PLN 1.36 billion, covers the supply of MN-123 scatterable anti-tank mines for Poland's Baobab-K mine-laying vehicles and other engineering systems.
A separate package of three contracts worth around PLN 700 million was signed with a consortium including MindMade, Belma and the Military Institute of Engineering Technology for the delivery of Jarzębina-S controlled explosive systems and related munitions.
The government commissioner for SAFE, Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka, said Poland had become the first EU member state both to begin signing contracts under the programme and to receive funding.
"We are the leader of this project," she said. "Today I am proud that we showed in Europe that things can be done the way we wanted."
The latest agreements follow a first batch of SAFE-funded contracts signed on Thursday, including cybersecurity systems for Poland's Cyber Defence Force, protective equipment for soldiers, drones, loitering munitions and two hydrographic vessels for the Polish navy.
On May 8, Poland signed a loan agreement with the European Commission under the SAFE framework. The government expects that more than 10,000 Polish companies will benefit from projects financed through the programme.
The SAFE initiative provides up to EUR 150 billion in loans through 2030 to support defence procurement by participating countries.
It was established to help EU countries strengthen their military capabilities amid Russia's war in Ukraine and uncertainty over future US engagement in European security.
The programme also aims to reduce reliance on US-made weapons and bolster Europe's defence industry.