During talks in Warsaw with Polish President Karol Nawrocki, Volodymyr Zelensky publicly thanked Poland for the additional delivery of MiG-29 fighter jets and stressed that cooperation between the two countries remains strong since the start of the Russian invasion almost four years ago. As Ukrinform media reported, Zelensky emphasized that the transfer of these devices is particularly relevant since the Ukrainian pilots have operational experience with them and their use does not require the long training abroad that the F-16 fighter jets require. In this regard, the Ukrainian president warned that the main difficulty of the Air Force lies not only in access to new aircraft, but above all in the small number of trained pilots and the time required to train new troops, a process that does not occur quickly. The head of state emphasized that maintaining flight operations also depends on not losing pilots when switching to more sophisticated systems.
The most important announcement came after the European Union approved a 90 billion euro loan for Ukraine in Brussels. According to Ukrinform, this financial package is intended to strengthen the country’s institutional and economic stability while sending a clear message to the Kremlin about the international support that Kiev maintains amid Russia’s military aggression. Zelensky said the measure would be interpreted as a signal to Russia that Ukraine “will not fall apart” and denied any basis for assuming Ukraine’s economic collapse due to the ongoing offensive.
The Ukrinform media reported that the intention of this loan is not only to contain the immediate effects of the war, but also to contribute to the economic reconstruction of the country affected by constant bombing and the consequences of the invasion. In his joint statement with Nawrocki, the Ukrainian president called the EU decision a remarkable success and stressed that Brussels managed to enable an alternative financing mechanism while legal obstacles remain that delay the seizure and final transfer of frozen Russian assets.
Zelensky, in statements reported by Ukrinform, stressed that the impact of European consent concerns both international projection and domestic security and trust. The EU’s decision, the President emphasized, not only strengthens the institutional structure of the state, but also contributes to strengthening the morale and faith of citizens in Ukraine’s ability to withstand and overcome the economic adversities resulting from the war conflict. According to the president, the allocation of European funds represents “a positive signal for the Ukrainian people.”
Another point raised during the visit to Warsaw was the bilateral relationship between Ukraine and Poland. As published by Ukrinform, Zelensky emphasized the historical ties of both countries and condemned Russia’s attempts to weaken this strategic alliance. “They are looking for discord, they want to destroy the connection of many generations (…) We will not allow them to do that,” the president said, referring to Moscow’s efforts to break cooperation between the two nations. In addition, Zelensky publicly thanked the Polish government and its society for their diplomatic support and acceptance of displaced Ukrainians since the beginning of the war.
At a subsequent meeting with Prime Minister Donald Tusk, as Ukrinform reported, Zelensky emphasized Poland’s sustained contribution to the main scenarios of support for Ukraine and praised European “leadership” in the face of Russia’s attempts to influence the Brussels summit. For his part, Tusk expressed concern about the reluctance of some European leaders who avoided definitively seizing the assets of the Russian Federation and using them for the reconstruction of Ukraine, noting that the process continues to be blocked by complex legal issues.
Military cooperation between Kiev and Warsaw also includes Poland’s demand to strengthen its own defense capabilities through anti-drone systems. Ukrinform quoted Polish President Karol Nawrocki as saying: “My responsibility is to protect the interests of Polish soldiers (…) we strive for strategic and symmetrical cooperation. These exchanges do not contradict our policies.” Both governments thereby expressed their intention to maintain military cooperation, which serves the security of their respective countries and contributes to the balance in bilateral relations.
The issue of confiscating frozen Russian assets was repeatedly discussed at meetings of the European and Ukrainian delegations in Brussels. As Ukrinform explains, EU authorities distributed the €90 billion financing package as an emergency solution while legal discussions continue on the feasibility of using confiscated Russian assets to rebuild the attacked Ukrainian territory. The position expressed by Zelensky and reported by Ukrinform leaves open the possibility of further research into this mechanism in the future as the Community legal framework evolves.
Ukrinform emphasized in its reporting that the economic agreement approved in Brussels testified to European resolve in the face of Russian aggression. The loan confirms an international consensus in support of Ukraine and represents a concrete commitment to rebuilding its economy in conditions of armed conflict. The assistance provided is aimed at stabilizing Ukrainian institutions, responding to the social demands created by the invasion and maintaining Kyiv’s ability to address current and future challenges, as representatives of the government and the municipal bloc expressed at recent meetings.
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