Donald Tusk: Supporting Ukraine Is Essential for EU Security and Western Values

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk during a press conference in Warsaw, July 23, 2025. REUTERS/Kuba Stezycki

Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk spoke at the Warsaw Security Forum with a clear reply to the views of a portion of the population who think Russia’s war against Ukraine doesn’t concern them. He stressed: supporting Ukraine is not just symbolism; it’s a component of EU security and the protection of civilizational values.

Responsibility and the reality of the conflict

I want to say very clearly, and I want my fellow Poles to hear it: this war is also our war. Far too often here in Warsaw and elsewhere I hear people say: “This is not our war, it doesn’t concern us. Let them fight themselves. We don’t want to pay, sacrifice money, time, or lives.”

This is not only a matter of solidarity with the country that was attacked. It is a matter of security and the survival of Western civilization. It is our war, because the war in Ukraine is part of a terrible project that surfaces from time to time: a political program aimed at subjugating peoples, depriving individuals of freedom, and introducing authoritarianism, despotism, cruelty, and the absence of human rights

If we lose this war – and we must speak in the first person – the consequences will touch not only our generation but also future generations in Poland, in Europe, in the United States, everywhere. Let there be no illusions

If we want to rely on our allies, we must be a full and capable member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Don’t just ask how to preserve perfect unity or how to persuade our American friends to greater, sustained involvement in the Ukrainian issue. First show that we can mobilize our societies, our governments, and our European community for effective action

Ukraine, paying a high price – and the victims of this war are present in this very hall – demonstrates that capitulation cannot be discussed. If Ukraine has not capitulated, if it is fighting – and recently, to the surprise of many, even President Trump publicly stated that Ukraine can win this war – these words matter. Belief matters. You win or lose first in your mind and your heart, and only then on the battlefield

Let us learn from each other, rather than lecturing one another. And let us learn our duties – especially under the conditions of this war, which I have called our war

Tusk stressed that Europe must act without delay, unite efforts with the United States and other allies for a real, proportional response to the aggression, and mobilize internal resources and prepare for closer cooperation on the transatlantic front with an eye toward the continent’s stability and security.

Strategic conclusions and further actions

According to the Prime Minister, it is important to maintain the pace of action: strengthening the defense community, intensifying partnership with NATO, and a clear understanding that the responsibility for security lies with every European country. Ahead are joint steps that will ensure strong protection from aggression and stability on the international stage.