"We are opening a new and even better chapter in our history." Tusk and Macron meet in Warsaw

French President Emmanuel Macron landed in Warsaw on Thursday shortly before noon. He was welcomed at the airport by Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, who was heading to Berlin for a meeting with the foreign ministers of the EU’s so-called Big Five and the United Kingdom.

Following the meeting at the Prime Minister’s Chancellery, an official welcome ceremony for President Macron was held by Prime Minister Donald Tusk. The previous meeting between Tusk and Macron took place in November this year in Budapest during the European Political Community summit. Earlier, in February, Tusk visited Paris.

During a joint press conference, Tusk reported that the discussions focused on joint efforts toward achieving a just peace in Ukraine. He emphasized that Macron's role is invaluable.

"Today, Europe needs leaders who are unequivocal in their stance on Russian aggression, respected globally, and have a clear vision of Europe’s and its neighbors’ future," Tusk stated.

The Prime Minister added that he and Macron exchanged information and intentions regarding peace efforts.

"We have an absolutely unified position that Ukraine must be included in all discussions concerning peace, and any proposal or scenario must be acceptable to our friends in Kyiv," Tusk underscored.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk emphasized during the conference that Poland will independently decide on its actions regarding Ukraine.

"I want to seize this opportunity to cut short speculations about the potential presence of troops from any country in Ukraine after a ceasefire, truce, or peace is reached," he stated.

He clarified that while such actions are not currently planned, Poland will cooperate with France - and other nations - on solutions that will primarily secure Europe and Ukraine from a resurgence of conflict if an agreement is reached.

"Decisions regarding Polish actions will be made in Warsaw and only in Warsaw. At the moment, we are not planning any such actions.

"We will cooperate with France - not exclusively, but with France - on solutions that will primarily secure Europe and also Ukraine from the resurgence of conflict if an agreement on a ceasefire and potentially peace can be reached," Tusk stated.

Tusk highlighted that he informed President Macron - and hoped Europe would understand - that "Poland bears the greatest burdens of all European countries concerning the war in Ukraine." These include military and financial aid, he noted.

He pointed out Poland’s role as the location of the largest and most significant humanitarian hub for Ukraine. "We bear these costs fully convinced of their necessity that aiding Ukraine also strengthens the security of Poland, France, and Europe as a whole," he added.

Tusk also underscored Poland's responsibility in protecting NATO’s and the EU's eastern borders with Belarus and Russia, stressing the importance of full support and cooperation from Poland's allies.

He reminded the audience that Poland is currently investing 4.7% of its GDP in defense. "This investment is not just about Poland but about protecting Europe at its most sensitive borders - those with Belarus and Russia," Tusk explained, thanking those who recognized this need.

The Prime Minister addressed the threat of Russian interference in democratic processes, including elections. "Poland and the Polish government will not tolerate any attempts to interfere in the presidential election," he declared.

"In Poland and France, it is the voters who choose presidents, not the Kremlin or Putin through hybrid and aggressive tactics, such as in cyberspace."

Tusk warned potential actors against interfering in Poland’s electoral process, pledging to protect Polish democracy. He also acknowledged France’s readiness to collaborate on cybersecurity efforts to prevent hostile actions.

Tusk added that after the conference, he would continue discussions with Macron on the details of economic and military cooperation. "But I can already say today that we are opening a new and even better chapter in our history," Tusk stated.

President Emmanuel Macron echoed concerns about Russia’s attempts to influence elections through disinformation and hybrid attacks.

"We are not naive. Manipulations, hybrid attacks, and disinformation by Russian-linked actors are becoming increasingly common in Europe," Macron stated.

He cited Moldova and Georgia as examples of nations targeted by such tactics, while expressing satisfaction over Maia Sandu's presidential victory in Moldova and supporting Georgia’s pro-European advocates.

Macron emphasized the need for Europe to bolster its efforts in monitoring and safeguarding cyberspace to prevent further manipulations.

Macron also said it was up to Ukraine to decide what concessions it wanted to make for the sake of peace but also stressed the importance of Europeans taking responsibility for the security of the whole continent, something thrown into sharp focus by the impending return of Trump to the White House.

Trump has long accused Washington's European allies of not spending enough on defence and relying too much on the U.S.

"The only possible peace (in Ukraine) is a sustainable peace, that is to say a peace which is negotiated by the Ukrainians and which allow them to have security solutions for the long term. And in the end, we share and we have just measured the same will to say, 'no peace in Ukraine without the Ukrainians', that is we cannot discuss concessions, the points to put on the table for the Ukrainians in their name, that is for them to do," said Macron, standing alongside Tusk.

"There is no security in Europe without the Europeans," he added.