Warsaw (Brussels Morning) – Former European Council President Donald Tusk cautions Europe of entering a “pre-war” era, urging EU countries to strengthen defence investment amidst rising tensions.
Former Europan Council Presiden and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk cautioned that Europe is entering a “pre-war” era, warning that the mainland is not ready and calling on EU countries to improve defence investment.
In a discussion with a group of European journalists, Tusk stated: “I don’t want to scare anyone, but the war is no longer a thing of the past. It is real and it started more than two years ago.” Tusk’s remarks come days after a Russian missile shortly breached Polish airspace during a significant attack on Ukraine, driving Warsaw to put its forces on high alert. Ukrainian officials noted that attacks by extensive Russian missiles and drones targeted energy infrastructure.
Using his platform to infiltrate a sense of speed into European debates on defence and aid to Ukraine, amid fears over the future of US aid and worries about the capacity of the defence industry, Tusk reported on social media earlier this month:
“True solidarity with Ukraine? Less talk, more ammunition .” The Polish Prime Minister said that, regardless of the outcome of this year’s US elections, Europe would become a more appealing partner for Washington if it became militarily self-sufficient.
He called many times on European countries to build strong armies to be as independent as possible from the USA. “The population of the EU is more considerable than that of Russia, our GDP is higher. Europe as a whole must acknowledge that it is a power that can ensure the security of both Europe and its neighbours.
Now is the time to act,” expressed Tusk after a conversation with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gar Stjore in Warsaw. The Polish Prime Minister also pledged that he would not accept the directions of the most radical Polish farmers who are blockading borders and roads requiring that the border with Ukraine be closed.
“These are not demands that can be negotiated. I am not the prime minister to take Poland out of the EU or to make Poland a country that bars its borders with Ukraine. But we are ready to examine the limits, those offered by Brussels and Kyiv are not acceptable to us”, stated Tusk.
The Polish Prime Minister revealed that he is organizing a conference with the leaders of the protesting farmers on Thursday. “One number will show you how great a problem we have. In Europe, there are over 20 million tons of extra grain in warehouses, nine in Poland.
And the crop hasn’t even started. We presently do not have the infrastructure that would permit these grains to be exported. We will desire a solution with the EU and Ukraine and our farmers,” declared Tusk.
He also called for emergency assistance to Kyiv, saying that the next two years of war will determine everything and that “we are living in the most crucial moment since the end of the Second World War.” What is most disturbing is that “literally every scenario is possible”, Tusk expressed.
“I know it sounds pathetic, especially for the younger generation, but we keep to mentally ready for the arrival of a new era. The pre-war era,” he stated. He added that Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Kyiv of the Crocus City Hall attack in Moscow without any proof and “apparently feels the necessity to justify increasingly violent aggression on civilian targets in Ukraine.”
Moreover, In his comments this week, Tusk highlighted the importance of cooperation between Poland, Germany and France, in a structure known as the Weimar Triangle. Despite strains between Warsaw and Kyiv over Ukrainian food imports in recent months, he has functioned to iron out differences. “Even the closest companions sometimes have conflicting claims and views,” the Polish leader expressed at a press conference this week alongside his Ukrainian counterpart.
