Poland will play a major role in Ukraine’s post-war security and reconstruction, but any decision to deploy Polish troops will remain a sovereign choice, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Monday, TVP reports.
Speaking ahead of talks in Helsinki, Tusk said that Warsaw must balance its support for Ukraine with its own strategic priorities. “Poland simply has other tasks. We must secure the eastern flank,” he told reporters.
According to Tusk, Poland is set to become a central logistical hub for Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts. “Not only Jasionka, but also our ports will handle logistics for Ukraine’s reconstruction,” he said. While security guarantees for Kyiv will inevitably involve Poland in a support role, Tusk was careful to say that no external pressure is being applied. “Everyone understands this. There is no pressure here, and I want that to be clear. This is our independent decision. Poland chooses where it sends soldiers and where it does not.”
The prime minister acknowledged that broader security arrangements for Ukraine remain unresolved. “It also remains an open question, because so far there has been no signal from Moscow that Russia would accept the presence of British, French, NATO or American troops as a security guarantee,” Tusk said. “So, an agreement is still a long way away.”
His remarks come as Western allies continue to debate how to provide credible security assurances to Ukraine without triggering direct confrontation with Russia. While some proposals envision NATO-style commitments, Tusk underscored that Poland’s role will be guided by national interests rather than allied pressure.
For now, Warsaw’s priorities are clear: strengthening NATO’s eastern flank and preparing for Ukraine’s eventual reconstruction. Whether that ultimately includes Polish troops on the ground remains a decision Poland intends to make on its own terms.
