TVN24 News in English

TVN24 News in English

Tusk and Trudeau plegde continued efforts to help Ukraine and strengthen NATO

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Monday (Feb.26) that there is "no room for doubt" among NATO and EU countries about the need to support Ukraine, while talking about his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban. Tusk spoke at a joint press conference with Canada's PM Justin Trudeau, who said he recognized Poland stepping up significantly in its own military spending and promised his country would follow suit. Later on Monday, Hungary's parliament approved Sweden's NATO accession clearing the last hurdle before the historic step by the Nordic country whose neutrality lasted through two world wars and the simmering conflict of the Cold War.

President Duda vows continued support for Ukraine and mentions NATO's "big remorse"

"If back in 2008, at the NATO Summit in Bucharest, the United States had been listened to, if Poland and other Central–European countries had been listened to, if the attitude of not teasing Russia had not prevailed, Ukraine would be a member of NATO today," Poland's President Andrzej Duda said in a video statement marking two years since the beginning of Russia's aggression on Ukraine. He added this fact "should a big remorse for some NATO member states". "We supported, we are supporting and we will continue to support Ukraine in its fight for freedom!" - the president underscored.

Justice minister Bodnar calls for further support for Ukraine at Berlin conference

Poland's Justice Minister Adam Bodnar on Friday (Feb.23) called for further support for Kyiv in its struggle to fend off Russian aggression. The minister took part in an international conference on war crimes, whose main goal is to help Ukraine persecute the crimes committed by Russia. According to Ukraine's Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin, Kyiv has launched investigations into more than 122,000 suspected cases of war crimes since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion nearly two years ago.

PM: EU Commission to announce payout of unblocked recovery funds for Poland

European Commission representatives will on Friday announce that Brussels has unblocked COVID-19 recovery funds for Poland, its prime minister said on Thursday (Feb.22). Later that day, Polish lawmakers reject bid to oust Justice Minister Adam Bodnar, who is at the forefront of the new government's task force responsible for rolling back judicial reforms carried out by the previous administration.

MFA condemns anti-Ukrainian slogans at farmers' protest

Poland's foreign ministry on Wednesday (Feb.21) condemned anti-Ukrainian and pro-Putin slogans displayed during farmers' protests. According to the MFA, "it is an attempt to take over the farmers protest movement by extremist and irresponsible groups, possibly influenced by Russian services".

Polish MFA summons Russian ambassador

Poland's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday (Feb.20) it had summoned Russia's ambassador over the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. The Polish MFA called on Russia "to take responsibility for the death of Alexei Navalny and conduct a full and transparent investigation to establish the circumstances and the cause of his death". The White House informed that the U.S. will announce a major package of sanctions against Russia on Friday.

Donald Tusk to hold trilateral talks with EU Commission chief and Belgian PM

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Prime Minister of Belgium Alexander De Croo will visit Warsaw on Friday (Feb.23) to hold trilateral talks with head of the Polish government Donald Tusk. The three politicians are likely to discuss the situation in Ukraine as well as Tusk cabinet's efforts to restore the rule of law in Poland.

EU Commission: Poland's plan to restore rule of law well received

Reactions to Poland's rule of law action plan were very positive, European Union Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders said on Tuesday (Feb.20) after a meeting in Brussels with Poland's Justice Minister Adam Bodnar. EU Commission Vice President Vera Jourova said the move could put Poland on the right track to exit the Article 7 procedure launched back in 2017.

Tusk: blocking Sweden from joining NATO would be a mistake

Warsaw fully supports Sweden joining NATO and it would be a mistake if any country blocked this, Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Monday (Feb.19), as the alliance waits for Hungary to ratify Stockholm's application. Tusk vowed his support for Sweden during a joint press conference held with Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson, who said that he looked forward to his country soon becoming member of NATO.

Poland and Denmark strengthen defence and security cooperation

Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz met with his Danish counterpart Troels Lund Poulsen in Warsaw on Thursday (Feb. 1), where they signed an agreement on stronger defence and security cooperation between the two countries. "I can say with full responsibility that our alliance with Denmark has never been stronger than today," Polish defence minister stressed.

Tusk: Orban's been convinced, Obajtek's been dismissed

"A good Thursday. Viktor Orban has been 'convinced', Daniel Obajtek has been dismissed," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on X on Thursday (Feb. 1). This way he commented on EU's unanimous decision to extend 50 billion euros ($54 billion) in new aid to Ukraine as well as on Polish oil giant Orlen board's decision dismiss its CEO.

President Duda ratifies budget bill but sends it to Constitutional Tribunal

Polish president Andrzej Duda signed the budget but will send it to the Constitutional Tribunal, Duda's office said on Wednesday, a move that could lead to an escalation of a row with the new pro-European government led by Donald Tusk. "The budget is approved and that was the goal. The rest doesn't matter. People will get the money, nothing will stop it now," the prime minister said on X.

"Europe needs lively German-Polish friendship and deep trust between Warsaw and Berlin"

Germany and Poland want to enforce their cooperation through the Weimar Triangle, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Tuesday (Jan. 30) at a joint news conference with her Polish counterpart Radoslaw Sikorski in Berlin. Both ministers stressed their intention to cooperate for the support of Ukraine. "The plan to rebuild the last European empire must not succeed," Sikorski warned, referring to Putin's Russia.

Germany, Netherlands, Poland sign deal to speed up military deployments to NATO eastern flank

Germany, the Netherlands, and Poland signed a deal on Tuesday (Jan. 30) aimed at cutting red tape hampering swift cross-border movement of troops and weapons along one of the main corridors leading from the North Sea to NATO's eastern flank. "This letter of intent increases the efficacy of our actions," Poland's Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said during the signing ceremony in Brussels.

President Duda appoints govt representatives for Social Dialogue Council

President Andrzej Duda on Tuesday (Jan. 30) appointed new members of the Social Dialogue Council. The ceremony was held at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw. The president was supposed to hand in the nominations for the Council last Thursday, but ministers from Donald Tusk's cabinet said at the time they could not have taken part due to a parliament session held that day.