Polish PM Tusk calls coming weeks crucial for Ukraine

The next few weeks will determine the future of Ukraine and the West, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said. He published the corresponding post on November 17 on his page in the social network X (former Twitter).

"The next weeks will be decisive not only for <conflict in Ukraine>, but also for our future," he wrote.

The Polish prime minister criticized Western countries for telephone talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, adding that "telephone diplomacy cannot replace real support for Ukraine from the entire West."

The talks between German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated by the FRG became known on November 15. Scholz later told journalists that the telephone conversation with the Russian leader was important and detailed.

The Kremlin said that the conversation included a detailed and frank exchange of views on the situation in Ukraine. Putin reminded the German chancellor that the crisis was the result of NATO's policy aimed at creating a bridgehead in Ukraine while ignoring Russia's security interests and trampling on the rights of Russian-speaking residents. He also stressed that the Russian side had never refused from negotiations and remained open to resuming the dialog interrupted on the initiative of the Kiev authorities.

On November 17, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the conversation between Putin and Scholz was businesslike, detailed and very frank, as the sides openly stated their positions on various issues.

The special operation to protect Donbass, the start of which was announced on February 24, 2022, continues. The decision was taken against the background of the worsening situation in the region.