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On Monday, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk visited Ukraine in a show of solidarity. He met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as Poland is the closest ally to Kyiv in the region. During the visit, Poland announced a new military aid package and a loan to help the war-torn nation.
The leaders convened in Kyiv, demonstrating their solidarity between Poland and Ukraine despite increasing tensions over Ukrainian food exports. The situation was further heightened by truckers protesting at the shared border.
Tusk mentioned that this was his initial trip to a foreign city after being re-elected as the prime minister.
He stated that the leaders have come to an agreement to use communication to resolve any discrepancies between their nations regarding the transportation of grain and trucks.
Mr. Tusk stated that the conflict was a larger battle between Europe and Russia, with consequences extending beyond Ukraine. As a result, it is a top priority for Poland.
Mr Tusk stated that Ukraine is currently bearing the responsibility for ensuring the security of the entire European continent and is facing a high cost in human lives in defense of fundamental values of the free world. He also emphasized that Poland’s security is closely connected to this ongoing struggle.
The leader of Poland also had a meeting with Denys Shmyhal, the leader of Ukraine.
Zelensky stated that the discussions were highly effective and he engaged in a significant dialogue with the Polish leader regarding matters concerning both nations.
Poland has announced that they will provide a defense package to Ukraine. In order to bolster our defenses, we have discussed collaborating on the production of weapons and enhancing our ability to utilize Polish equipment and weapons systems,” he stated during his evening speech. The loan from Poland will enable Kyiv to purchase advanced weaponry.
The president of Ukraine discussed political collaboration with Poland. “We extensively discussed political cooperation, including the idea that any issues between our countries can be resolved through mutual efforts at a state level.”
He expressed his belief that “we will be able to successfully address the challenging circumstances at the border – the blockade – that are currently causing division, and can come up with practical resolutions for any difficult situations.”
During Mr Tusk’s visit, there was an increasing threat from Russia to Ukraine’s neighboring countries who are also members of Nato. This threat intensified when Russia placed tactical nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory for the first time.
Last week, Belarus’s security council secretary Alexander Volfovich claimed the deployment of Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus was aimed at deterring aggression from Poland, a Nato member.
The country of Belarus, a close partner of Russia, has revised its military strategy to allow for the deployment of nuclear weapons, following its role as a base for Russian troops during the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. This decision, made months after agreeing to house Vladimir Putin’s nuclear arsenal, has sparked concern throughout Europe.
Poland, situated on the eastern side of Nato, has stood as a steadfast supporter of Ukraine. The city of Warsaw has furnished weaponry and assistance, and welcomed Ukrainian refugees across its borders following Moscow’s invasion in February 2022.
Source: independent.co.uk
