UPDATE - Ukrainian president welcomes new defense aid package by Poland

UPDATES WITH INFORMATION FROM MEETING BETWEEN PREMIERS & TUSK'S COMMENTS

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday welcomed a new defense aid package by neighboring Poland.

“We appreciate Poland's unwavering support and the new military aid package for Ukraine, as well as a new form of cooperation aimed at larger-scale arms purchases for Ukrainian needs,” Zelenskyy said on X, following talks with visiting Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in the capital Kyiv.

Noting that he and Tusk had “very productive negotiations” regarding all aspects of their bilateral relations, Zelenskyy said that the new form of cooperation between the two countries includes a Polish loan for Ukraine.

Zelenskyy further said that they discussed the opportunities for future joint arms production.

Meanwhile, during a press conference following a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Denys Shmyhal, Tusk said that Ukraine is not alone in the sense that this fight is taking place in every European country.

He also said that Poland joined the G-7 declaration on security guarantees for Ukraine in July last year, which he said is intended to "mobilize democratic countries" to support Kyiv.

Tusk arrived in Kyiv on an official visit earlier on Monday, where he and his counterpart Denys Shmyhal laid flowers at the Wall of Remembrance of the Fallen for Ukraine.

"Our fight against the aggressor is a fight for freedom and the values of the entire democratic world. We are grateful to our partners for standing with Ukraine," Shmyhal said on X.