Polish officials respond to European leaders' calls for tighter EU cooperation

German chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested that future peace negotiations involving Russia and Ukraine should be conducted by Germany, France and the United Kingdom, excluding Poland and Italy. The statement prompted criticism in Poland, with references to Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s recent trip to Kyiv and concerns that Poland’s influence in reconstruction efforts is being sidelined.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for deeper strategic cooperation within the European Union, emphasizing autonomy in industry, technology and finance. Polish foreign minister Radosław Sikorski reposted Meloni’s video and addressed “nationalists”, warning against restrictive policies and highlighting the need for a united European approach.

Both episodes illustrate ongoing debates in Warsaw over the role of Poland in broader EU decision‑making and the continent’s response to the war in Ukraine.