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Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and is published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support.
Poland will be “the lead country” when it comes to overseeing logistical support for Ukraine after a potential peace deal with Russia, Prime Minister Donald Tusk has announced following talks between the so-called Coalition of the Willing in Paris.
Tusk also reiterated that Poland’s allies understand and accept that there will be no Polish troops on the ground in Ukraine as part of any peace process. By contrast, the UK and France confirmed today that they would deploy forces if a ceasefire is established.
Today in Paris, Europe, the US, Canada and others spoke with one voice on security guarantees and the future of Ukraine. But I’m still sceptical about Russia’s intentions. What we need is strong pressure on them, with all economic and political measures we have at hand.
— Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) January 6, 2026
European leaders, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and senior US officials gathered in Paris today for talks on how to end Russia’s war in Ukraine and what would follow.
As well as the commitment by France and the UK to put boots on the ground, today’s summit also saw European Council President António Costa announce that the EU is “ready to commit to a system of politically and legally binding guarantees”.
Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, meanwhile, said that the US president “strongly stands behind security protocols…meant to a) deter any attacks, any further attacks in Ukraine, and b) if there are any attacks, they’re meant to defend”, reports Reuters.
Speaking afterwards, Tusk, who represented Poland in the talks, said that it is still “too early to make any overly optimistic announcements”, especially given that a peace deal requires Russia’s agreement.
But he added that the move towards a common position by the Coalition of the Willing would increase pressure on Moscow.
One of the elements that was confirmed in today’s talks, said Tusk, is that “Poland will be the leading country when it comes to logistical and organisational matters” involving peacekeeping and reconstruction in Ukraine.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Poland has already become the main logistical hub for military equipment, aid and people travelling in and out of its eastern neighbour.
A strong display of unity for Ukraine today in Paris at the Coalition of the Willing leaders meeting from EU Member States, NATO allies and friends of Ukraine.
Our joint statement sends a clear message.
We collectively stand by Ukraine and a safe, secure prosperous future… pic.twitter.com/yYjs5cV7sH
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) January 6, 2026
“Each task has its own national leader, as it were, and among the four countries that will be deciding how to proceed after the war ends, Poland is one of the leading states,” added the prime minister. “Our presence in the entire peace process must be crucial and fundamental, and it will be.”
However, Tusk emphasised, as he has repeatedly before, that this role “will not involve the presence of Polish troops in Ukraine…under any scenario”.
Tusk also said that, during the talks, US officials had held up Poland – which has undergone a hugely successful economic transition over the last 30 years – as an example for Ukraine to follow.
“It was gratifying to hear the American side…[say] that Ukraine has a chance – and I’m quoting [Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared] Kushner – to follow the Polish path and achieve the successes Poland has achieved,” said Tusk.
Poland's @donaldtusk has issued a joint statement with the leaders of the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Denmark calling for Greenland's sovereignty to be respected following Donald Trump’s renewed calls for the island to be brought under US control https://t.co/pWrDAeaat1
— Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) January 6, 2026
Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support.
Main image credit: KPRM/Fl (under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
Daniel Tilles is editor-in-chief of Notes from Poland. He has written on Polish affairs for a wide range of publications, including Foreign Policy, POLITICO Europe, EUobserver and Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.
