Since January 1, Poland has held the presidency of the Council of the European Union. This was supposed to be a time for Poland to step up, take initiative, and show strong leadership—especially when it comes to security. With U.S. President Donald Trump accelerating efforts to end the war in Ukraine, Poland should have been front and centre. But instead, Europe has been largely sidelined in these crucial negotiations, and Poland’s voice has been nowhere to be found.
Macron Takes Charge While Tusk Stays Silent
Rather than Poland taking the lead, French President Emmanuel Macron has swooped in to dominate the conversation. He first hosted a meeting in Paris with European leaders to discuss the war, and now he’s heading to Washington for a high-profile discussion with his U.S. counterpart.
Before his trip, Macron made calls to key European figures—Ursula von der Leyen, Antonio Costa, Olaf Scholz, Keir Starmer, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Viktor Orban.
But guess who didn’t get a call? Warsaw.
Over the past few hours, I have spoken with @vonderleyen, @eucopresident, @OlafScholz, @Keir_Starmer, @RTErdogan and @PM_ViktorOrban.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) February 23, 2025
Following discussions over the past few days with European colleagues and allies, we are committed to ensuring that peace returns to Ukraine…
A Humiliating Snub for Poland
Poland not only holds the EU presidency, but it’s also a frontline state in the conflict. Yet Macron completely ignored Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a clear signal that Poland is not being taken seriously in international affairs.
Social Media Reacts: Where is Tusk?
Criticism of Tusk is flooding social media, with many questioning why he remains so passive. While Macron boldly positions himself as the key European voice on security, Tusk seems content to watch from the sidelines.
This is more than just a diplomatic embarrassment—it’s a sign that under Tusk’s weak leadership, Poland is losing its influence on the global stage. While other European leaders take charge, Poland’s presidency is slipping into irrelevance. Instead of asserting the country’s role, Tusk is allowing it to be ignored.
Polska prezydencja w UE… https://t.co/XeeMC0WgFt pic.twitter.com/BhzbWeXdE6
— Andrzej Śliwka 🇵🇱 (@SliwkaAndrzej) February 23, 2025
Nie chcą mu przeszkadzać w obieraniu ziemniaków.
— Anita Czerwińska #Nawrocki2025🇵🇱 🇵🇱✝️(@A__Czerwinska) February 23, 2025
“Nikt mnie nie ogra w Unii Europejskiej.” https://t.co/sAtkmFnR6x