Donald Tusk Pledges To Keep World Committed To Helping Ukraine

Newly sworn-in Polish prime minister; Donald Tusk, pledges that his government will keep the world committed to helping Ukraine and that Warsaw would be a stable ally of NATO and a leader in Europe.

In his first address to parliament, Mr. Tusk also urged the divisive political class in Poland to come together, stating that the country cannot afford divides at a time when Russia is waging an aggressive war across its borders—a conflict that many worry could escalate if Moscow wins.

It is the duty of Poland, the new administration and all of us to vehemently and loudly demand that the entire Western community fully commit to supporting Ukraine in this battle.

In front of the ambassador of Ukraine and former Polish presidents, including the anti-communist freedom hero Lech Walesa, Mr. Tusk declared, “I will do this from day one.”

Later on Tuesday, the parliament voted 248–201 in favor of Tusk’s government; however, the vote was postponed because a far-right pro-Russian

Later on Tuesday, the parliament voted 248–201 in favor of Tusk’s cabinet. However, the vote was postponed when Grzegorz Braun, a far-right legislator who supports Russia, took a fire extinguisher and extinguished the candles on a menorah during a Hanukkah celebration. Mr. Tusk and a few others called the event a shame.

He expressed his pain at hearing that President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine must keep attempting to convince world leaders of the necessity of continuing to assist Kyiv in its fight against Russian aggression.

According to Mr. Tusk, his coalition government would make it a top priority to convince decision-makers that continuing to support Ukraine’s self-defense is not only necessary but also advantageous for the free world.

“There is no alternative to this way of thinking. I can no longer listen to some European politicians from other Western countries who say something about being tired of the situation in Ukraine. They are tired. They say it to President Zelensky’s face that they no longer have the strength, that they are exhausted,” Mr Tusk said.

Mr. Tusk delivered his policy speech in parliament on Tuesday, just one day after being selected by legislators to be the next prime minister.

The centrist leader, who served as prime minister from 2007 to 2014, is back in charge of a wide coalition that includes more conservative parties as well as left-wing groups under his own Civic Platform party.

He must confront numerous obstacles, such as reestablishing democratic norms in his nation, advocating for the unblocking of EU funds that were put on hold because of his predecessors’ democratic transgressions, and dealing with the fallout from a conflict that broke out in Ukraine, which is located over Poland’s eastern border.

Restoring relations with the EU, which were severely damaged during the previous eight years of leadership by a national conservative administration, will be one of his simpler tasks.

With his strong ties in Brussels and his tenure as president of the European Council from 2014 to 2019, Mr. Tusk is expected to boost Warsaw’s stature as the capital of the EU.

His rise to power occurred almost two months after a coalition of parties that won the election on rival tickets but vowed to cooperate under Mr. Tusk’s direction to uphold democratic norms and strengthen relations with allies.