Macron, Tusk discuss Ukraine, European security, France-Poland ties

Warsaw [Poland], December 13: Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk held talks with visiting French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday on Ukraine, European security and Poland-France relations.
"We have a common point of view about the future -- only a lasting peace in Ukraine is a possible peace," Macron said during a meeting with Tusk.
Echoing Macron, Tusk said that Poland and France hold a clear position that Ukraine must be present for any peace talks. "There will be no peace in Ukraine without Ukrainians (at the negotiating table)," he said.
There had been media speculation that the two leaders were going to discuss the creation of a military stabilization contingent in Ukraine, if talks with Russia were to result in a suspension of the conflict.
However, Tusk said at a press conference following Thursday's talks that Poland does not plan to have troops in Ukraine after a ceasefire is reached.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski also confirmed this position on Thursday during a meeting of the heads of diplomacy of Poland, France, Germany, Italy and Spain in Berlin. "We are not considering sending any forces to Ukraine," he said at the meeting, which was also attended by the foreign ministers from the United Kingdom and Ukraine.
Macron recalled that during the recent trilateral meeting with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris, the leaders discussed Ukraine and the fact that "the United States will take on a new role in the coming weeks and months."
Regarding Polish-French relations, Tusk said that Poland and France are set to sign a new friendship treaty in the spring of 2025. Macron said the treaty would further strengthen ties between France and Poland.
Source: Xinhua News Agency