Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said Poland can use its close ties with Washington to push for stronger U.S. backing for Ukraine, arguing that Warsaw’s high defense spending makes its voice more influential.
Tusk made the remarks on Sunday before departing for London to attend an international summit aimed at rallying Europe’s collective support for Ukraine.
The summit, hosted by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, follows a heated exchange between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office on Friday.
The verbal spat plunged U.S.-Ukraine relations to a new low, casting further doubts on America’s commitment to Kyiv under Trump’s administration.
Trump’s lurch towards Moscow in a war in which the U.S. has been Kyiv’s most important ally has caused consternation in Ukraine and among Washington’s traditional allies.
The summit, hosted by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, follows a heated exchange between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office on Friday.
The verbal spat plunged U.S.-Ukraine relations to a new low, casting further doubts on America’s commitment to Kyiv under Trump’s administration.
Trump’s lurch towards Moscow in a war in which the U.S. has been Kyiv’s most important ally has caused consternation in Ukraine and among Washington’s traditional allies.
US position on Ukraine a ‘dilemma’
Speaking at a press conference before heading to London, Tusk acknowledged that U.S. support for Ukraine was “not as unequivocal” as before.
He described Washington’s position on the Ukraine war as a “dilemma” and said, “we need to overcome this dilemma.”
Tusk said that Poland’s main message after Friday’s fiery exchange was that “in the Ukraine-Russia war, Poland sides with Ukraine. Without any ‘buts’.”
He said: “The Polish national interest requires no discussion [on whether to support Ukraine], but an unequivocal, reliable support of Ukraine in its defense against the Russian aggression.
“Today the issue is complicated, because while siding with Ukraine in the interest of our national security we, Poles, are at the same time definitely in favor of the closest possible alliance between Poland, Europe, the whole West and the United States.”
Tusk added that Poland can leverage its close relationship with Washington to persuade U.S. for stronger backing of Kyiv, emphasizing that Warsaw’s voice “will be heard,” because of its high defense spending and “very good relations with the Americans.”
Among NATO member states, Poland allocates the highest proportion of its GDP to defense at 4.7%, more than double the alliance’s 2% baseline.
Poland’s spending is also one percentage point higher than the U.S.
Leaders and representatives from more than 15 Western nations are taking part in the London summit, where they are expected to outline their own vision for peace in Ukraine after Trump initiated negotiations with Moscow without consulting them.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Antonio Costa are also at the table in London.
Starmer and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni have also offered to mend ties between Zelenskyy and Trump.
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