He wants to ensure Poland is ready in the event of war
The Prime Minister of Poland is having serious conversations regarding nuclear weapons in a bid to deter Putin.
Donald Tusk gave a speech to the Polish parliament yesterday (7 March) as he said his government was ‘carefully examining’ France’s proposal in being included in its nuclear umbrella.
French President Emmanuel Macron recently offered to extend the nation’s nuclear protection to its European allies as it looks to have military on the ground in Ukraine.
And as neighbouring Ukraine’s war with Russia is ongoing, it seems Tusk is gearing up for Poland to be prepared for the same possibility.
During his speech, he announced that a military training plan is under way for all men in the country..jpg)
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Tusk spoke to parliament yesterday. (Andrzej Iwanczuk/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Tusk explained work is happening to ‘prepare large-scale military training for every adult male in Poland’.
“We will try to have a model ready by the end of this year so that every adult male in Poland is trained in the event of war, so that this reserve is comparable and adequate to the potential threats,” he said.
He expressed a ‘need’ for an army of half a million in the country, including the reservists.
Regarding the nuclear umbrella offer from France, Tusk said: “I would like to know first of all in detail what it means in terms of the authority over these weapons.”
The Prime Minister noted that Ukraine was invaded after getting rid of its own nuclear arsenal and added that it is desired for Warsaw to have its own.
"We must be aware that Poland must reach for the most modern capabilities also related to nuclear weapons and modern unconventional weapons ... this is a race for security, not for war," he said.
Tusk with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy in January. (Andrzej Iwanczuk/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
He added that he wants Poland to increase its spending on defence, which has already been increased since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
When it comes to having all men trained for the military, the leader said that women may also undergo the training, but ‘war is still to a greater extent the domain of men.'
Of increasing the army, he said: “It seems if we organise things wisely, and I'm talking constantly with the Minister of Defence, we will have to use several courses of action. That means the reservists, but also intensive training to make those who do not go into the army fully-fledged and competent soldiers during a conflict.”
Featured Image Credit: Andrzej Iwanczuk/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Topics: Army, Politics, Russia, Ukraine, World News, Europe
Jess Battison
Updated 11:57 5 Mar 2025 GMTPublished 11:52 5 Mar 2025 GMT
Russia releases statement after Donald Trump read out letter sent to him by Zelenskyy
The Ukrainian President claimed his country was 'ready to come to the negotiating table'
A Kremlin representative has spoken on Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s apparent willingness to negotiate with Russia after Donald Trump read out a letter from the Ukrainian President in Congress.
Last week (February 28), US President Trump and Vice President JD Vance met with Zelenskyy in the Oval Office to discuss Ukraine’s ongoing war with Russia among other things.
The conversation escalated, with the Republican leader claiming the country did not ‘have the cards’ to rally against Vladimir Putin’s forces, and that Zelenskyy was ‘gambling with World War III’.
“You're gambling with the lives of millions of people", Trump said. "You're gambling with World War Three, and what you're doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that's backed you far more than a lot of people say they should have."
Donald Trump argues with President Zelenskyy
Trump also promised to pause all military aid to Ukraine—a move Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said was the ‘best contribution to the cause of peace’.
Following Zelenskyy’s early exit from the White House and the cancellation of his and Trump’s joint press conference, the politician issued a letter to the 47th President of the United States.
This note was read out to Congress in Washington yesterday (March 4) and stated: “Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible.
“My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump's strong leadership to get a peace that lasts.
“We do really value how much America has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence.”
President Donald Trump claims peace talks with Russia have previously taken place (Andrew Harnik/Getty Image)
Trump went on to read that Ukraine is also ‘ready’ to sign the agreement on rare earth minerals at ‘any’ time convenient to the US - an agreement they were supposed to sign during Zelenskyy's visit, before getting into a heated discussion.
“It's time to end this senseless war. If you want to end wars, you have to talk to both sides,” The Apprentice star remarked.
He also claimed there had already been ‘serious discussions’ about peace with Russia, but it is not known when these conversations took place.
Now, it appears Moscow is looking favourably on the Ukraine leader’s willingness to ‘come to the negotiating table’.
"We are positive. The question is with whom to sit at the negotiating table,” Peskov said.
He noted that it was not currently clear how these talks would take place, due to a 2022 decree declaring that Ukraine would not negotiate with Russian leader Putin.
“For now, the legal ban by the Ukrainian President holding talks with the Russian side is in force.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has issued a statement following the Ukranian’s letter (Sefa Karacan/Anadolu via Getty Images)
"Overall, the approach is positive, but the details have not changed yet."
Sky News reports that a Russian drone attack was launched last night (4 March) on the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa, killing a 77-year-old woman and injuring three others.
Regional governor Oleh Kiper said the woman died of shrapnel wounds on the outskirts of the city, and that the drones had damaged private homes and started fires.
In retaliation, Ukraine’s air force has stated it shot down 115 of the 181 drones fired in the overnight attack.
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