We must very consistently support Ukraine, Tusk says as Radev visits Warsaw
We must very consistently support Ukraine, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on September 24 after talks with Bulgarian Prime Minister Roumen Radev, who is on an official visit to Warsaw.
“On one matter, as far as Ukraine and Russia are concerned, we have an obvious and shared view – this war should end as soon as possible, and not on the aggressor’s terms, but on fair and just terms, so that the peace is lasting,” Tusk said.
“On some issues, we have different sensitivities with Prime Minister Radev, but we understand very well the situation of our countries and nations, which is why I am convinced that we will cooperate very well in the interest of Poland and Bulgaria,” he said.
Tusk said that during his talks with Radev, Russia had once again attacked Ukraine near the Polish border.
“We have evacuated the border crossings in Hrubieszów and Dorohusk,” Tusk said.
“This situation compels us, very consistently, to act and to warn our European partners that this is a difficult time and we must prepare well for the coming months,” Tusk said.
Radev, who has a track record of opposing military aid for Ukraine, said: “A war is being waged on our borders, a war of attrition, a war that risks escalating every day and that is exhausting our economic and social systems. So we must do everything possible so that this war can end as soon as possible.”
“Here, as is happening today in Poland — readiness to respond to any hybrid attacks, drone attacks, which is happening in both Poland and Bulgaria,” Radev said.
“So we need to develop and Poland has already done a lot for anti-drone systems,” he said.
“We have joint projects, for example, the F-16, and I would be happy to exchange experience with Poland in both the maintenance of these aircraft and their training of our pilots. So we need to continue to exchange even more in-depth intelligence information in order to prevent new potential crises.”
“And I want to thank Prime Minister Tusk for the help, for the support of the Bulgarian MiG-29s in operational readiness, because this is still the aircraft with which we carry out the Air policing mission in the Nato integrated air defence system,” Radev said.
Bulgaria has taken delivery of eight F-16 fighter jets but has not yet put them into active service. It continues to fly the Soviet-era MiG-29s, but has difficulty maintaining them. A key element of the visit to Warsaw by Radev, a former MiG-29 pilot, is to seek Polish assistance in parts for the ageing aircraft.
(Photo: Polish Prime Minister’s Office)
