"Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stressed that Poland will not participate in military operations in the Middle East, pointing to Warsaw’s focus on the eastern flank and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Speaking after meetings with European Council officials, Tusk stressed that Poland’s priorities remain clear and warned that attention to Ukraine must not waver, as the conflict there has direct implications for regional security. “Poland has one task. We, as Poles, carry a serious responsibility on our shoulders… No, we shouldn't look for new activities, because this task is absolutely paramount for us,” he noted, adding that the eastern flank is a strategic focus for both Poland and NATO. "Europe has a growing problem, a growing trouble with Orban. It was important to me that the eastern flank, i.e., our border, appeared explicitly by name in the defence priorities of the European Union," he continued. Tusk’s statements came amid ongoing EU discussions on aid to Ukraine and internal disagreements over the eastern and southern security priorities, highlighting tensions with Hungary which has sought to block EU military support for Kiev. "As you have noticed, for a long time, there has been this competition between the South and the East: Which is more important, the threat from the South? Illegal migration, the war in the Middle East, or the defence of the eastern border?" he questioned. The Polish leader outlined that the European Union must remain firm on border protection and migration controls, particularly in light of the geopolitical instability caused by the war in the Middle East. “In connection with the war in the Middle East and the geopolitical crisis in general, [Europe] will not be open to everyone who wants to migrate,” Tusk said, noting that lessons from the 2015 migration crisis continue to inform EU policy. The European Council met in Brussels to discuss a range of issues, including the Middle East escalation, migration pressures, and financial aid to Ukraine."