A common voice on the most important issues

Poland and the Czech Republic present convergent positions on the most important issues that are crucial for Europe today. This is, m.in, the Russian aggression on the territory of Ukraine.

- I knew that I was going to a friend and to a friendly country, but I did not think that in politics there could be two partners who would agree on all aspects that we had taken up in the discussion. This is very important for Polish, for the Czech Republic, for the whole region. It may also be important for Ukraine, the European Union, NATO that in this region, which has been quite complicated recently, there are two capitals that speak with one voice on practically all issues, said Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

The head of the Czech government stressed that Poland and the Czech Republic have many issues in common. Among them are m.in common values for both countries.

- What we have in common is the way we look at foreign policy. How do we perceive the values that need to be defended, that need to be promoted? We have a similar view on key events in Europe, on events that pose a huge challenge for Europe, stressed Prime Minister Petr Fiala.

Poland will join the Czech initiative to provide additional support to Ukraine

The Prime Minister of the Czech Republic announced that his country will launch a new initiative to support the fighting Ukraine. It will consist of the delivery of ammunition. Poland, as one of the leaders in helping Ukraine, will join the actions proposed by the Czech side.

- I am glad that we will also be able to practically cooperate when it comes to support for Ukraine on the issues that are most important to them, such as the supply of ammunition. I am full of appreciation for the Czech initiative. We are ready to participate in any initiative – and this is one of them – that will bring us closer to ending the Russian aggression against Ukraine. It is our moral and political duty, but also our obvious interest, to support Ukraine in its defence against Russian aggression, said Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

The head of the Czech government thanked Poland for its readiness to act together. He also stressed that we must not forget what Ukraine is fighting for. It is not only the freedom of Ukrainians, but also the freedom of the whole of Europe.

- We are ready to support Ukraine intensively, continuing to look for all ways to intensify this support. Ukraine is fighting not only for its independence, freedom and democracy, but it is also fighting for the freedom of the whole of Europe. We must not forget that. I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Prime Minister for his readiness to Polish join the Czech initiative to supply artillery ammunition to Ukraine. Yesterday I presented this project to the other Prime Ministers in Paris. I believe that this is a very important initiative, said the Czech Prime Minister.

We soberly assess the negative impact of the free trade decision with Ukraine

Our country has been actively supporting Ukraine since the very beginning of the Russian aggression. This includes both military support and humanitarian aid. Thousands of Ukrainians found their home in Poland during this tragic time. However, we must not forget our farmers, who are suffering from the negative effects of trade liberalisation with Ukraine.

- No one has the right to believe that the Czech Republic or Poland do not support Ukraine. At the same time, however, we are sober in our assessment of the negative impact of the free trade decision with Ukraine, which has a negative impact on our economies. And we will work together in Brussels for corrections that will protect the common European market from the negative effects of such a decision, assured the head of the Polish government.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk thanked the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic for his understanding and support, as well as his readiness to cooperate when it comes to changes in the Green Deal.

- Thank you very much for your understanding, support and readiness to cooperate when it comes to changes and corrections in the Green Deal – especially those that clearly strike at the interests of Czech industry, Polish industry or Polish agriculture – we must talk about it openly. We have a special mandate here, as guarantors of the pro-European attitude of the entire region. But it is in the interest of Europe, in the interest of the EU, to be as pragmatic as possible in these matters, and we will urge our colleagues in Brussels to do so, to assess very precisely the consequences of certain decisions for our agriculture, for our industry. And we also have a common view here, added the head of the Polish government.