A United West

The greatest achievement of the Berlin meeting was the clear demonstration of a common Western front. For the first time, it was so unambiguously visible that the United States, Europe and Ukraine are on the same side.

“What is a breakthrough, though by no means a guarantee of success, is the fact that, for the first time, it was so clearly visible that the Americans, the Europeans and Ukraine are on the same side. (…) It is essential that we act together, with the Americans and the Ukrainians, as allies, so that the Russians can see that it is impossible to drive a wedge between these three parties,” the Prime Minister stressed.

Only such unity can prompt Russia to take talks on ending the war, or at least a ceasefire, seriously.

Security guarantees

Security guarantees for Ukraine are also an element of Poland’s security. A stable and secure Ukraine means lower risk for the entire NATO eastern flank.

“The Americans are convinced that, with their participation, we are able to build serious security guarantees for Ukraine,” Donald Tusk said.

The Prime Minister emphasised that without U.S. involvement there is no realistic chance of effective peace talks.

“For the first time I heard, from the mouths of the American negotiators, that America will engage in security guarantees for Ukraine in such a way that the Russians will have no doubt that the American response would be military if they attacked Ukraine again,” the Prime Minister said.

One of the guarantors of security is to be an international support force for Ukraine. Partners understand, however, Poland’s role as a security leader in the region, and Polish soldiers will not take part in that mission.

“Poland has other tasks. We must secure the eastern flank. Poland will be a key hub, not only Jasionka. Also our ports, the entire logistics chain for Ukraine’s reconstruction. If guarantees for Ukraine are to make sense, Poland will, by necessity, be logistically involved,” Donald Tusk explained.

An important element of the meeting was the direct conversation between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the American negotiators: Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. This shows that efforts undertaken by European leaders have delivered the intended result.

Pressure on Russia, not on Ukraine

The issue of potential territorial concessions remains the most difficult element of the talks. Poland will not, however, exert any pressure on Ukraine on this matter.

“Poland certainly will not exert the slightest pressure on Ukraine to agree to any concessions. This must be a decision resulting from the calculations and assessments of the Ukrainians themselves,” the Prime Minister said.

The approach is different in the case of Russia, on which the united bloc intends to continue exerting pressure. Examples include sanctions and frozen Russian assets.

“Even greater pressure is needed, and we must show that we truly will not allow ourselves to be divided as the West,” Donald Tusk explained.

Poland’s role, together with its partners, is to support Ukraine so that any future agreement is not perceived as a triumph for Russia.

The outcome of the talks is a joint statement by European leaders, also signed by the President of the European Council Antonio Costa, the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.