“Ukraine can count on Polish support and assistance, the foundations of our friendship and cooperation are clear, unconditional and will not change,” Prime Minister Donald Tusk assured at a press conference after the meeting with the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky. Tusk also argued that Warsaw and Kiev will work together, including with European partners, “to accelerate the accession process.” The head of government, even in the presence of President Zelensky, could not help ‘mocking’ his predecessors and claiming that the current authorities ‘will not repeat the mistakes of their predecessors’. “We will try to look to the future while understanding and respecting history,” he said.
Tusk emphasized that the meeting with the President of Ukraine takes place at the beginning of the Polish Presidency of the EU Council.
This is an important moment for Ukraine and Poland, a confirmation of Ukraine’s beautiful and dramatic path to community, which requires courage, sacrifice and imagination. Community of values and interests, and it is good that Poland and Ukraine confirm today that one of the most important conditions for a successful end to this historical path is the closest possible cooperation, based on friendship and common experiences, common friendships and common enemies . between Poland and Ukraine
– said Tusk.
He added that in relations between Poland and Ukraine, “during the brutal war started by Russia, these foundations of our friendship and cooperation are clear, unconditional and will not change.”
Ukraine can count on Polish support and assistance. And I am convinced that this is also one of my tasks, to help and support the entire EU in defending against Russia’s brutal aggression.
– Tusk emphasized.
Not just ‘historical justice’
An independent, sovereign Ukraine that decides its own fate is not only a self-evident historical justice, but also an indisputable prerequisite for the security of Poland and the whole of Europe.
– emphasized the Polish Prime Minister during a joint press conference with Volodymyr Zelensky.
Tusk emphasized that Poles have helped Ukraine as best they can since the first days of the war. As he added, not only because “the truth is on your side and ours” and because it is a moral obligation to support anyone who falls victim to a brutal, unjustified attack.
This sense of mutual interests is also an enduring reason for our collaboration
– said the head of the Polish government.
Speed up the accession treaty?
Tusk reported that they discussed Ukraine’s path to the European Union with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who visited Warsaw on Wednesday. The Prime Minister believed that the Polish Presidency of the EU Council would break the impasse on this issue, which was visible in recent months.
We will work unconditionally with Ukraine and our European partners to accelerate the accession process as much as possible.
– emphasized the Prime Minister during a joint press conference with Zelensky.
Tusk said that after these “bureaucratic actions”, conversations about mutual interests would be conducted in the language of details, and not of feelings.
As he noted, in this ‘community of interests’ everyone must be able to promote their own interests.
We will help Ukraine, but we will continue to protect our national interests
– he emphasized.
Tusk emphasized that what he and Zelensky discussed privately is a very important commandment for all his employees.
We will not repeat the mistakes of our predecessors, we will try to look into the future, understand and respect history
– he said.
And what mistakes were made by the predecessors who gave Ukraine so much support from the beginning of Russian aggression that Prime Minister Tusk could not forgive himself for not raising the “mistakes of the predecessors” in the presence of the President of Russia ? Ukraine?
The Volhynia affair
The head of government assured that the Polish and Ukrainian parties “will find a common language and methods of joint action when it comes to the issue of Volhynian crime and these dramatic, sensitive issues in our history.”
They require empathy from Ukraine towards Poland and from Poland towards Ukraine. It must be parallel. I will not allow this difficult, dramatic history of Poland to be used for political games, but I will also work very consistently for a quick, systemic solution to this problem.
– declared the Prime Minister.
Tusk also thanked the Ukrainian side “for their understanding”.
This is sometimes lost in political discussions, but it is a rather obvious problem to solve, namely the need of Polish families to bury with dignity their loved ones who were victims of the Volhynian crime.
– he said.
The fact that we understand each other at this point and start talking in normal language (…) can be called a breakthrough. I know how much is on your mind today, what your war means. I appreciate even more that you also find space in your mind and heart for serious reflection on this issue. I know, dear Volodymyr, how much you are personally involved in this and I thank you very much for that
– added the Prime Minister.
yes/DAD
Source: wPolityce
Emma Matthew is a political analyst for “Social Bites”. With a keen understanding of the inner workings of government and a passion for politics, she provides insightful and informative coverage of the latest political developments.