Trump and Polish President Duda Discuss War in Ukraine and Conflict in Middle East at New York Summit

Donald Trump and Polish President Andrzej Duda discussed the war in Ukraine and conflict in the Middle East during their two and a half hour meeting at Trump Tower on Wednesday night in New York.

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The Polish president said the meeting was “friendly” and held in a “nice atmosphere” in comments to reporters. Trump said Duda “has done a great job,” saying the two men “had a great four years together” and “maybe have to do it again” as he seeks a second term as presidential candidate. -sitting Republican.

The exchange of pleasantries came as Congress prepared for a critical vote – expected Saturday – on new aid to Ukraine and Israel against resistance from Republican hardliners. The measures of economic aid to Ukraine had to be paid back, accepting an idea launched by Trump.

Duda developed close ties with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in the early months of the conflict and has been urging Western allies to support war-torn neighbor Poland because of shortages military and air defense there.

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Trump discussed Duda’s proposal for NATO members to increase their defense spending to 3% of economic output, according to an email read from Trump’s office. The Republican presidential candidate alarmed allies with his comments earlier this year, where he appeared to suggest he would encourage Russia to attack countries that failed to meet defense spending obligations. fellowship

Duda has long boasted about his ties to Trump that date back to his first term in office, which spanned Trump’s presidency. He famously asked Trump when he visited the White House in 2018 to establish a permanent US military base, offering to call it “Fort Trump”.

The ties have created tension with the government. Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned on Tuesday that Trump’s ability to return to the White House would harm European security and the future of NATO. Duda’s friends from the republican Law & Justice party were kicked out of office in October and the president’s relationship with the new government has been rocky.

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Duda will be the second leader from the eastern European Union member states to meet with the Republican presidential candidate this year. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban visited Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida last month in a meeting criticized by President Joe Biden.

Contributed by Jennifer Jacobs.