On Monday, July 8, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Warsaw and signed a long-term security agreement. This move is part of Poland’s support for Ukraine.
Zelenskiy’s office released a statement on Telegram saying that the two countries will discuss defense cooperation, Warsaw’s support for Ukraine’s integration into Europe, and the NATO summit in Washington.
The NATO summit will be held in Washington this week.
The Ukrainian leader’s visit to Poland aims to strengthen Warsaw’s long-standing support for Kyiv in resisting Russian invasion. Tusk told Zelenskiy, “You can always rely on us.”
During Zelenskiy’s visit to Poland, Russia launched missile attacks on various cities in Ukraine, causing at least 31 deaths. The main children’s hospital in the capital Kyiv suffered severe damage, becoming the deadliest airstrike in months.
Tusk and Zelenskiy observed a one-minute silence for the victims of the airstrikes.
Poland has been one of Ukraine’s staunchest supporters in the European Union, providing a first safe haven for millions of Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war. Currently, nearly one million Ukrainian refugees are taking shelter in Poland.
On June 28, Tusk told reporters, “I have to decide with the Minister of Defense how we can continue to help Ukraine, but we cannot weaken Poland’s defense capabilities.”
EU member countries Lithuania and Estonia signed security agreements with Ukrainian President Zelenskiy separately at a summit in Brussels on June 27. On that day, European Council President Michel and European Commission President von der Leyen also signed agreements with Zelenskiy. Michel posted on social media, stating that the EU is committed to helping Ukraine defend its security and withstand turmoil. The signing of the agreements “further demonstrates the EU’s unwavering long-term support for Ukraine,” he added.
More than ten countries including the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Germany have signed similar agreements with Kyiv.
President Biden of the United States and President Zelenskiy of Ukraine signed a ten-year security agreement during the G7 summit in southern Italy on June 13. The agreement extensively regulates cooperation between the two countries on all possible levels, including military equipment, training, and exercises.
At the same time, Ukraine is also required to implement various reforms in the judiciary, law enforcement, and anti-corruption fields, as well as reforms in military capabilities and structures to meet the standards for NATO membership in the future.
(*This article refers to reports from Bloomberg)