Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski has said that he believes the United States is committing to securing a “lasting peace in Ukraine.”
Sikorski made the remarks following his meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday.
The meeting followed high-level U.S.-Russia talks earlier this week, aimed at exploring pathways to end the war in Ukraine, which is nearing its third anniversary.
The negotiations, which featured neither Kyiv nor the EU, have raised concerns that Donald Trump’s administration could strike a deal with Moscow over Ukraine that undermines Europe’s security.
Speaking at a briefing at the Polish Embassy in Washington after the talks, Sikorski described his meeting with Rubio as “substantive and cordial,” adding that the discussions covered not only the war in Ukraine but also “cooperation in such distant countries as North Korea, Venezuela, Cuba and Iran.”
He said: “It was a strong conversation between close allies.”
Sikorski also said that he invited Rubio to visit Poland, which the U.S. official accepted.
The meeting followed high-level U.S.-Russia talks earlier this week, aimed at exploring pathways to end the war in Ukraine, which is nearing its third anniversary.
The negotiations, which featured neither Kyiv nor the EU, have raised concerns that Donald Trump’s administration could strike a deal with Moscow over Ukraine that undermines Europe’s security.
Speaking at a briefing at the Polish Embassy in Washington after the talks, Sikorski described his meeting with Rubio as “substantive and cordial,” adding that the discussions covered not only the war in Ukraine but also “cooperation in such distant countries as North Korea, Venezuela, Cuba and Iran.”
He said: “It was a strong conversation between close allies.”
Sikorski also said that he invited Rubio to visit Poland, which the U.S. official accepted.
Europe’s role in peace talks
When asked about the U.S. objectives in efforts to end the Ukraine war, Sikorski said he got the impression that “the United States wants lasting peace.” Addressing security guarantees for Kyiv, Sikorski said that “the point is for Ukraine to be able to determine its future.”
He said that the issue of European troops potentially being deployed to Ukraine as part of security guarantees was not discussed.
Sikorski said he spoke with Rubio about the future of the U.S.-Ukraine partnership, as well as the secretary of state’s talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Monday, but declined to provide details.
However, he said that “sooner or later,” Europe will take part in negotiations on ending Ukraine war.
US military engagement in Europe
Furthermore, the foreign minister discussed the presence of U.S. troops in Poland, encouraging their retention at “at least the same level.”
But he also said that some U.S. forces might be withdrawn from Europe due to planned Pentagon budget cuts.
There’s growing uncertainty over Washington’s long-term military commitments in Europe, fueled by remarks made by some members of Trump’s administration.
Last week, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, during a visit to Poland, warned that NATO allies should not assume a permanent American presence in Europe and urged European nations to increase their defense spending.
Doubling down on defense spending
Following the talks, Rubio, the U.S. foreign policy chief, said the meeting focused on the need for “fair and reciprocal market access” and the “need for NATO Allies to increase defense investment without delay.”
“We also discussed the Russia-Ukraine war and the need for all NATO Allies to increase their defense investment without delay,” Rubio wrote on social media platform X.
Duda-Trump meeting
Sikorski confirmed that Polish President Andrzej Duda will meet with Trump on Saturday.
He said: “This transatlantic discussion is taking place at various levels and I also very much hope that President Duda will strengthen Polish’s voice on the issue of a just peace in Ukraine.
“President Duda is friends with President Trump, so this is the moment to use this friendship for Polish, for Europe.”
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