Tusk and Zelensky hold phone call as Ukraine reports intensifying Russian attacks
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke by phone on 11 October. Zelensky briefed Tusk on Ukraine's defense needs and what he described as a marked increase in Russian shelling and destabilization activity. Tusk pledged the full solidarity of Poland and Europe with Ukraine and said he was certain nothing and no one would break Ukraine and its president in the fight against Russian aggression. The two leaders also coordinated their diplomatic activity ahead of EU-level meetings in Brussels.
Key points
- Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a phone call on 11 October.
- Zelensky briefed Tusk on Ukraine's defense needs.
- Zelensky said there are currently significantly more Russian shelling attacks and significantly more Russian destabilization activity.
- Tusk said he is absolutely convinced that nothing and no one will break Ukraine and its president in their fight against Russian aggression.
- Tusk assured Zelensky of the full solidarity of Poland and Europe with the Ukrainian people.
- The two leaders coordinated diplomatic efforts ahead of EU-level meetings in Brussels.
- Polish security services are checking information about an alleged assassination plot against Tusk and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.
Why it matters
The call reaffirms Poland's political backing of Ukraine at a moment Kyiv describes as one of intensifying Russian attacks. It follows earlier warnings from Tusk of a sharply more aggressive Russian posture and of intelligence pointing to Russian hybrid-strike plans against countries that support Ukraine. The conversation also sets up coordinated Kyiv–Warsaw diplomacy ahead of EU-level meetings in Brussels. It takes place against the backdrop of a reported Polish security investigation into an alleged assassination plot against Tusk and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, a reminder of the personal-security dimension now surrounding Poland's leadership.
What happened
On 11 October, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a phone call. Zelensky thanked Tusk for his support and his full understanding of the security situation and existing threats, and briefed Tusk on Ukraine's defense needs. Zelensky told Tusk that there are currently significantly more Russian shelling attacks and significantly more Russian destabilization activity, and said Polish positions are strong and that the two countries are working together to guarantee security. Tusk responded that he is absolutely convinced nothing and no one will break Ukraine and its president in their fight against Russian aggression, and assured Zelensky that Ukraine can count on the full solidarity of Poland and Europe with the Ukrainian people. The two leaders also discussed what could strengthen Ukraine's positions and its ability to defend itself against Russian aggression, and coordinated their diplomatic activity ahead of EU-level meetings in Brussels. Zelensky reported the conversation in his Telegram channel, and Tusk announced it on X (formerly Twitter).
How Ukrainian sources describe it
All six supplied articles are from Ukrainian outlets and frame the call through the lens of bilateral support. Their headlines foreground Tusk's solidarity message, Ukraine's defense needs, and what the Ukrainian sources describe as growing Russian aggressiveness. Ukrainian-language coverage consistently highlights Zelensky's account of intensified Russian shelling and destabilization activity, presenting it as the backdrop that makes the call necessary.
Background
Tusk had previously warned that intelligence data pointed to Russian plans for hybrid strikes against states that back Ukraine. In September, he publicly warned of possible strikes on NATO's eastern flank that Russia could try to present as accidental. Separately, Polish security services are checking information about an alleged assassination plot against Tusk and Deputy Prime Minister / Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz; Polish police are said to have received the related tip on the Sunday before the call.