On Monday, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk defended the U.S. peace plan for Ukraine in Angola, arguing that Poland’s demand for troop limits would be unacceptable.
Tusk on the Ukraine Plan
During the press conference, Tusk addressed questions about the American peace proposal, noting the suggestion to restrict Ukrainian forces to 600,000 soldiers. He said no consensus exists that Ukraine’s military should be weakened as a condition for peace, stressing the sensitivity of the issue and the careful wording required to keep the United States and former President Trump on the side of the negotiations.
Tusk on the Poland Point
Tusk also responded to the proposal to station European fighters in Poland. A journalist remarked that Russia could use the focus on aircraft to pressure for the withdrawal of land forces from NATO’s eastern flank. Tusk said the point was a Russian perspective, potentially a manipulation or trap, and declared that nobody would be drawn into it, suggesting that the point might be removed.
Ukraine Sets “Red Lines”
Ukrainian parliamentary speaker Ruslan Stefańczuk spoke in Sweden about Ukraine’s “red lines” in negotiations with Russia. He emphasized the need for Ukraine’s dignity and sovereignty, rejecting legal recognition of Russian occupation and any limits on Ukraine’s defense forces or veto over future alliances. Stefańczuk called for maximum sanctions pressure on Russia until President Putin is ready to agree to peace, and stressed that Ukraine’s membership in the EU and NATO should be integral to the peace plan.
