Defending the eastern flank is an EU objective

“Poland’s point of view on the importance of defending the eastern flank has become the common point of view,”
said the Prime Minister.

At Wednesday’s informal EU summit, leaders focused on the Union’s security and Russia’s war against Ukraine. Thanks in part to Poland’s efforts, the need to defend the eastern flank against Moscow’s provocations is now widely accepted and treated as one of the EU’s main tasks.

“No one now questions that our eastern border with Russia and Belarus is the border of the whole of Europe and of NATO - and that everyone must take responsibility, including financial and organisational responsibility, for protecting our eastern border,”
he stressed.

The head of government recalled that during Russia’s first aggression against Ukraine in 2014, when he proposed the idea of a European air shield, there had been no response.

“Only the direct threat posed by Russian provocations has woken the rest of Europe - and today no one questions this,”
he added.

Europe must now use every possible method to increase the Union’s security. One solution is the construction of a drone wall along the eastern flank.

“We are realists. We do not expect a drone wall that will eliminate threats one hundred per cent. If anyone is looking for absolute guarantees of security, they will not find them,”
said the Prime Minister.

Support for Ukraine

Another topic in Copenhagen was support for Ukraine, including assistance following the change in the US President’s stance.

“The more pro-Ukrainian approach gives reason for optimism. But we also know that America expects much greater financial engagement from Europe,”
noted Donald Tusk.

For Ukraine to continue resisting Russia - which is above all in Poland’s interest - financing must be secured.

“If we are to buy weapons from the United States for Ukraine, as our American partner expects, we must start organising it,”
he underlined.

We are living in times of war

The Prime Minister called for an end to illusions about Russia’s actions.

“We must put an end to illusions. The first illusion was - and is - that there is no war. Some prefer terms such as full-scale aggression, incident or provocation. No: this is a war. A new kind of war, very complex, but a war,”
he said.

He added that with determination and courage, Russia can be defeated. He described the elections in Moldova as “a spectacular victory over Russian propaganda”.

The Prime Minister also took part in a discussion panel together with Moldova’s President Maia Sandu, the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer and France’s President Emmanuel Macron.