Poland will maintain its military and political support for Ukraine, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said in Kyiv on Monday, after accusing his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orbán of betraying Europe.
Tusk’s visit to Ukraine was his first visit to the country as prime minister since last year’s national elections, which saw his coalition replace the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS, ECR) government, which had been a strong supporter of Ukraine.
“Poland is ready to produce and support Ukraine with equipment and supplies,” said Tusk at a meeting with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Together with Zelenskyy, Tusk discussed joint investments in the production of arms and ammunition. He said his government would invest in companies in Poland and Ukraine “that will work to increase our defence capabilities: those of Ukraine, Poland and Europe”.
In 2023, the previous relationship between Warsaw and Kyiv was strained over the EU’s liberalisation of its trade rules with Ukraine, which caused an uncontrolled influx of cheaper food products to enter the Polish market.
Soaring imports of Ukrainian agri-food products, including cereals, poultry, eggs, frozen raspberries and apple juice, reduced demand for Polish domestic production and caused massive hardship for farmers.
Since the European Commission was unwilling to reinstate trade restrictions with the country, Poland and other countries neighbouring Ukraine that were also affected introduced a unilateral ban on some types of products from Ukraine, infuriating many in Kyiv.
At the same time, Polish lorry drivers have been blocking some border crossings with Ukraine since November, demanding that the EU reinstate a system whereby Ukrainian companies need permits to operate in the bloc and the same for European lorry drivers entering Ukraine. The truckers’ protest, now suspended until 1 March, was initiated by Tusk.
Nevertheless, Zelenskyy said that solidarity with Ukraine cannot be destroyed by any obstacles and blockades, declaring his “strong support for the Polish government’s actions to remove such obstacles”.
“We understand the reasons that led to this situation, but we pay attention to the threats to our nations that are very close to us, so we must solve all problems in the most pragmatic way,” he added.
Tusk also did not hold back when speaking about Orbán, whom he suggested favours Moscow over Ukraine.
“Those who silently support Putin are betraying Europe in every way and will be remembered and not forgiven,” he said.
While Orbán vetoed a €50 billion financial aid package for Ukraine at the December European Council meeting, EU leaders will meet again at a special summit on 1 February to discuss the matter again.
But Tusk remains convinced that the EU bloc will still find a way “with or without Orbán” to secure support for Ukraine’s EU integration and emergency aid as the war continues.
Washington pleased with Poland’s announcement
The US State Department has already welcomed Tusk’s declaration of Poland’s continuous support for Kyiv, spokesman Vedant Patel told journalists later on Monday.
Tusk’s announcement shows that the US is not alone in its “intensive” support for Ukraine, he added.
The spokesman refused to comment on Tusk’s statement on Orbán, only stressing that Hungary is an important NATO partner for the US.
(Aleksandra Krzysztoszek | Euractiv.pl)
Read more with Euractiv
European Parliament probes centre right MEP for anti-Sanchez slursThe European Parliament has initiated an investigation into allegations of misconduct by Spanish MEP Antonio López-Istúriz White of the European People’s Party (EPP), an internal document and a source from the European Parliament confirmed to Euractiv.
Source: euractiv.com
