Polish PM says US and Europe should be more ‘decisive’ on Russia

Donald Tusk has repeatedly maintained that Poland will remain a staunch ally to Ukraine, and he urged solidarity from other Western countries. (EPA Images pic) WARSAW: Poland's prime minister Donald Tusk on Monday said that all Western countries should be more decisive in containing Russia, as the invasion of Ukraine enters a fifth winter.

"This is the moment when the entire West – Europe, the US – should show Russia and (President Vladimir) Putin that it is ready to pursue a policy of containing Russia by even more decisive means," he told the Warsaw Security Forum, adding he was primarily referring to sanctions.

"That is why I will go to Brussels to persuade all our European partners to seriously consider increasing sanctions against Russia," he added, ahead of a summit planned later this week.

Poland – a Nato and EU member bordering Russia – has been a close ally to Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, delivering critical military and humanitarian aid.

It has repeatedly accused Russia of sabotage and hybrid warfare on Polish soil, accusations rejected by Moscow.

In September, Tusk warned that Russia's plans in the war against Ukraine include "hybrid" drone and missile strikes against Kyiv's allies, including Warsaw.

The centrist, pro-European prime minister has repeatedly maintained that Poland will remain a staunch ally to Ukraine, and he urged solidarity from other Western countries.

His message came after US President Donald Trump announced an energy ceasefire between the two warring countries without providing details, sparking astonishment in Kyiv and silence from Moscow.

"If Ukraine fights, it fights for survival," Tusk told the Warsaw Security Forum, adding that "Russia fights for domination".

"We in Poland remember very well how Nazi propaganda tried to convince Europe and the world that Poland was responsible for German aggression," he said.

He emphasised that "today we hear exactly the same thing in Moscow, and unfortunately, increasingly often in some of our capitals".