Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that the coming months — autumn and the approaching winter — could prove decisive not only for Ukraine's independence but also for the security of Poland itself and the entire free world. In his words, the whole world must now unite in support of Kyiv, as a critical period approaches, and, in his assessment, the survival of Ukraine determines the security of the global community. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing Polsat News.
The lesson of 1939: "evil is once again lurking nearby"
Speaking on the anniversary of the outbreak of World War II, Tusk emphasized that modern leaders must draw the right conclusions from the events of 1939 and not pursue a "policy of helplessness," refusing to yield to "evil, lies, or hatred." He recalled that responsibility for unleashing World War II lies with Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia, and that the world at the time allowed them to commit aggression with impunity. "There is no ambiguity here. It was, is, and will remain obvious to every decent person, regardless of where they were born or what their nationality is," the head of the Polish government declared, adding that 87 years after the start of the war, "evil is once again lurking nearby."
Solidarity, strong alliances, and one's own capabilities
In Tusk's view, the main lesson of that era is that democratic countries must be strong, rely on their own capabilities, and build genuine alliances, rather than simply waiting for others to react. He called on partners to act today, not to postpone decisions, since, in his words, the fate of all of Europe depends on the events in Ukraine. This statement fits within the broader course of the Polish leadership, which earlier, in particular at a conference in June 2026, insisted that Europe's future must be built on truth and mutual respect.
Escalation risk: NATO cannot rule out provocations
Tusk directly called Russia a "brutal aggressor" and pointed out that the West's duty is to recognize the link between what is happening in Ukraine and the security of the European continent. Recalling his own recent assessments, he stated that the aggressor state is preparing for a new escalation, and that the next six months will be decisive for the region's security. For this reason, in his words, NATO and individual Alliance members cannot rule out possible Russian provocations, which requires Western capitals to be ready and united in solidarity right now.
Diplomatic context and parallel tracks
The statement came against the backdrop of ongoing bilateral contacts between Poland and its neighbors and Alliance partners. In parallel, a track on normalizing relations between Warsaw and Kyiv is also being discussed: according to reports, Ukraine is seeking a way to ease tensions in its relations with Poland, which could affect the nature of the joint position on security issues. In an earlier context, Tusk also emphasized Poland's readiness, together with France and other partners, to "fight for Europe's security," indicating Warsaw's consistent line on strengthening collective defense.
