Poland’s new Prime Minister Donald Tusk headed to Kyiv on Monday 22 January for his first visit to a foreign capital since his appointment as head of the Polish government on 13 Decemeber. 

Tusk held talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Denis Shmyhal and President Volodymyr Zelensky. During the official press conference, the Polish PM assured that Poland will continue its efforts to support Ukraine amid the ongoing invasion by Russia. 

The former President of the European Council emphasised that although Poland is currently being shaken by internal political disputes, there is “no difference of opinion regarding support for Ukraine”. 

“There is no more credible politician in the world working for peace today than President Zelensky […] You deeply believe in your mission to bring peace to Europe and Ukraine” Tusk said. 

The liberal politician from Gdańsk also criticised the stance of Hungary in the context of the ongoing war. Without citing him explicitly, Tusk targeted Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán, by stating that “anyone in the free world who pretends to be neutral deserves the darkest place in political hell”. Earlier on Monday, he told Denis Shmyhal that “there is nothing more important than supporting Ukraine”. 

The large-scale invasion of Ukraine launched by Vladimir Putin was launched exactly two years ago, but the occupation by Russian forces of Ukrainian territories started already over a decade ago. Several hundred thousand casualties have already been reported in this war in which Poland remains Ukraine’s steadiest support, along with the US.  

Image: X (@donaldtusk)

Author: Sébastien Meuwissen