President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Lublin. The talks covered defence cooperation and the strengthening of Ukraine’s missile defence, the Ukrainian delegation’s contacts in Washington, the historic dialogue between Kyiv and Warsaw, and the safety of Ukrainian citizens who have sought refuge in Poland.
Briefly about the main points
- Zelenskyy and Tusk held talks in Lublin, Poland.
- The President has described anti-ballistic defence as a key priority.
- Tusk received information about Kyiv’s diplomatic contacts in Washington.
- The parties continued their discussions on complex historical issues.
- The safety of Ukrainians living in Poland has become a separate issue.
Ballistic defence among defence priorities
Zelensky He said that a significant part of the conversation had been devoted to defence cooperation and Ukraine’s needs to protect its cities and communities from Russian attacks. «Ballistic missile defence is a key priority,» he emphasised.
The President also briefed the Polish Prime Minister on the diplomatic efforts of the Ukrainian delegation in Washington. Following the talks, no specific decisions were announced regarding the transfer of air defence systems or interceptor missiles.
Earlier, on 14 July, Tusk stated that Poland was ready to join a coalition with ballistic defence together with Ukraine, provided there is a suitable industrial offer from Polish companies. At the time, he noted that there were no plans to supply Ukraine with any new Polish missiles for the Patriot system. This draws a distinction between political support for the anti-ballistic programme and potential specific arms deliveries.
The historical dialogue is moving into the practical realm
Zelenskyy and Tusk also discussed the difficult chapters of their shared history. Kyiv and Warsaw are seeking to foster this dialogue through work with archives, research and exhumations.
In July, the Polish Institute of National Remembrance began exhumations in Ostrivky and Volia Ostrovetska in Volhynia. As of 28 July, the remains of 49 people had been found there; Polish and Ukrainian experts are involved in the work. This approach makes it possible to shift the focus of the discussion away from political statements and towards identifying the names of the deceased and ensuring they are given a dignified burial.
The safety of the Ukrainian community
During the meeting, the issue of the safety of Ukrainians who had fled to Poland because of the war was raised separately. «It is important that Ukrainians who have left their homes because of the war and found refuge in Poland feel safe,» said Zelenskyy.
The issue has taken on added significance following a number of incidents aggression against Ukrainians. According to police figures cited by Rzeczpospolita, 180 reports of hate crimes against Ukrainians were received in the first half of 2026 — approximately 30% more than in the same period last year. These figures refer to reported incidents, not to the number of proven offences.
Zelenskyy emphasised that Ukraine’s security is directly linked to Poland’s security, and that cooperation between the two countries strengthens the entire European region. The talks in Lublin combined the issues of missile defence with the protection of people currently in Poland due to the Russian war.
