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UPDATE: Polish, Latvian PMs discuss security, border protection

29.02.2024 15:00
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and his Latvian counterpart Evika Siliņa said they discussed regional security and efforts to protect borders during a meeting in Warsaw on Thursday.
Audio
Polands Prime Minister Donald Tusk (right) and his Latvian counterpart Evika Silia (left) meet in Warsaw on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024.
Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk (right) and his Latvian counterpart Evika Siliņa (left) meet in Warsaw on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024.Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka

The two leaders met one-on-one and also engaged in talks with a broader group of officials from both countries, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.

Speaking at a joint news conference after the talks, Tusk told reporters that the two countries "are exposed to all kinds of threats coming from the East," according to the Polish Prime Minister's Office.

Addressing reporters alongside Siliņa, the Polish prime minister said that "Europe must understand that the new arms race imposed by Russian aggression against Ukraine requires us to make decisions that will balance Russia's military potential."

He added: "Our reflections confirm the need to arm Europe better and prepare for new scenarios."

Tusk revealed in an X post that he and Siliņa "also talked about the situation in Moldova, disturbing signals from Transnistria and our cooperation in military security, especially in the context of Sweden and Finland's accession to NATO."

He said the talks "covered joint energy security projects and synchronisation of electrical networks."

"In the context of security, we also talked about a better Rail Baltica transport connection," Tusk added.

The meeting of the two leaders came as part of a broader effort by the government in Warsaw to strengthen ties with Poland's northeastern neighbours amid Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, according to officials.

On Wednesday, Tusk held talks in the Polish capital with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

During that meeting, Poland and Norway announced plans to intensify military assistance, reconstruction aid and economic support for Ukraine.

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, starting the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II.

Thursday is day 736 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

(gs)

Source: IAR, PAP

Click on the audio player above for a report by Radio Poland's Michał Owczarek.