Donald Tusk, during Saturday’s meeting of the National Council of the Civic Platform in Warsaw, once again tried – without evidence – to link Law and Justice (PiS) and President Karol Nawrocki to Russia. “Everywhere we see the implementation of Putin’s and Moscow’s political interests, we see Kaczyński’s, Nawrocki’s, Mentzen’s people – they are present wherever Putin wants them to be,” Tusk said. The leader of the Civic Platform seemed to forget that for years he himself pursued policies aligned with the Kremlin’s interests.
Tusk accuses, but questions arise about his past actions
Donald Tusk stated during his speech that “Putin’s plan toward our country is simple, clear, and undisguised.” He added, “We can call this plan ‘Putin’s Five’. It is an attempt to dismantle, break apart, and weaken the European Union, along with the classic incitement against the EU organized by people serving Russia’s interests here in Poland,” said the Prime Minister.
Within this so-called “Putin’s Five,” he listed, among others, incitement against Ukraine, driving a wedge between Poland and Ukraine, creating conflict between Poland and Germany, and breaking up the European Union. The Civic Platform (KO) leader also included blocking funds for military spending in Poland and Europe. “No one has such an obvious interest in blocking European funds for Poland’s rearmament as Putin, and he was close to achieving this fourth point,” he emphasized.
The fifth point, according to him, is the destruction of democratic state institutions and the rule of law.
“What PiS has done here over the years – yes, that is the implementation of Putin’s fifth point,” Tusk stated.
“This is Putin’s Five, and this is Kaczyński’s Five,” added the head of Civic Platform. However, it is worth noting that after Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the outbreak of war in Donbas, Donald Tusk said in May 2014 that “he would not like Poland to be in the ‘anti-Russian vanguard’.”
Later, as President of the European Council, Donald Tusk stated in 2015 that there would be no military support for Ukraine. “Let us not build illusions,” he said in an interview with TVP Info. Moreover, Civic Platform (KO) had sought to sign a contract with Gazprom extending until 2037. Both during his first term in office and now, Tusk has taken actions that may be viewed favorably in the Kremlin – namely, criticizing the Polish-American alliance.
Tusk’s attempt to label politicians such as Karol Nawrocki and Jarosław Kaczyński as pro-Russian figures was met with a strong reaction from internet users: