Poland will continue military assistance to Ukraine for “as long as it takes,” in line with a comprehensive bilateral security deal Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy signed in Warsaw on July 8.

Zelenskiy travelled to Warsaw in the wake of a terror attack Russia waged on Kyiv in the early hours of the same day, killing 41 people, including two in a children’s hospital.

Since the beginning of the war in February 2022 Poland has been one of Ukraine’s staunchest European allies, having supplied military assistance worth nearly 0.5% of its GDP to date.

“It is the policy of Poland to assist Ukraine, on a bilateral basis and through cooperation with Allies and partners, with preservation of its qualitative defence and military edge amid rapid, uncertain and challenging regional political and security transformation,” the text of the agreement said.

In that vein, Poland pledged to provide “several substantial military assistance packages” and … continue with robust support” for Ukraine in 2024 and in the next decade, according to the agreement.

Military assistance and cooperation might include Poland’s considering the delivery of a squadron of MIG-29s fighter jets to Ukraine and intercepting missiles and drones fired in the direction of Poland in Ukraine’s airspace.

Poland’s wider objective is to help Ukraine hold up against Russian aggression and ultimately drive Russians out of its territory as delineated in 1991 – so including the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, as well as Crimea.

That, Warsaw says, is fundamental for the security of Ukraine but also Europe and the West, PM Tusk told a press briefing he held with Zelenskiy. Poland and the Baltic States in particular have been worried that Russia’s control of Ukraine could encourage Russia to zero in on them next.

“Whoever defends Ukraine today is also defending themselves,” Tusk said.

"Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's heroic defence are the defence of our entire world … We know very well that if the war were to end badly, it would end badly not only for Ukraine but also for Poland, Europe and the entire Western world,” Tusk also said.

“We can only force Russia into peace, and we can only achieve this together with everyone in the world who truly seeks peace. This requires sufficient support, determination, truly joint action and defence – shoulder to shoulder,” Zelenskiy told the briefing.

The agreement also contains a provision under which Poland will “encourage” Ukrainians residing in Poland to return to their home country to serve in the armed forces or other security and defence units.

The security agreement also spells out Poland’s support for Ukraine’s membership in Nato and the EU.

“Ukraine belongs to the Euro-Atlantic family and will join the ranks of Nato Allies. Ukraine's membership in Nato will make an effective contribution to peace and stability in Europe,” the agreement said.

The document also says that “Ukraine belongs to the European family and its future lies in the EU.”

A pivotal Nato summit is taking place in Washington from July 9 to July 11 that is expected to affirm Ukraine’s path to Nato as well as agree on a new “substantial package” for Ukraine, including a financial pledge and more immediate military support for Kyiv.