Mateusz Morawiecki is convinced that in talks with Moscow, Kyiv needs the support of the West.
"No word that comes from the Kremlin should be trusted by definition. The Russians, previously the Soviets, were able to break all the treaties they concluded. (Therefore) the treaties must be supported by real force." Morawiecki told Euronews.
"The Ukrainians have such real force, but in order to be able to oppose Russia, it must be a force supported by the West," emphasised the head of the European Conservatives and Reformists.
The former Polish Prime Minister became the head of the European Conservatives and Reformists group, which brings together conservative groups in the European Parliament, a few months ago.
Morawiecki replaced Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who recommended him for this position. When taking up the position, the Polish politician emphasised that among the goals he sets for himself is maintaining and developing transatlantic relations. Now he says on The Europe Conversation that these relations are necessary to end the war in Ukraine.
"Without the Americans, it is hard to imagine lasting peace, and yet we all strive for it. So I hope that it is not only these words of Minister Lavrov or President Putin, or other officials, the highest state officials of Russia that will set the directions of changes in the near future," Morawiecki said.
"But above all, hard power, hard commitments and guarantees on the European side, but also, above all, on the American side."
According to the former prime minister, good transatlantic relations are crucial for peace in Europe, and Trump's expectations towards European partners are natural.
Trump, says Morawiecki, "must demand from his European partners that all of us in Europe, European NATO countries in particular, rise to the occasion. Without American support, we in Europe would not be able to be calm for decades."
Morawiecki believes that if transatlantic relations were not to survive, "our European world will be endangered, it will be very seriously endangered. Russia will enter into a very lasting agreement with China, and such a Russian-Chinese tandem is a powerful force that is able to dominate not only Central Europe, but simply the whole of Europe."
The former prime minister recalls that it was his government (Morawiecki headed the Polish government in 2017-2023) that committed to greater defence spending. Currently, Poland allocates over 4% of its GDP to this.
"Today, we are the country among the 32 NATO countries that spends the highest percentage on defence policy," emphasised the former head of the Polish government. In 2026, Poland will spend at least 5% of its GDP on defence, which means over PLN 200 billion.
Morawiecki believes that Trump's actions are more important than the changing narratives of his country: "I don't get used to what he says at a given moment, I just look at what he does, and his actions lead primarily to this."
"Let's look at this moment from an American perspective, in order for American forces and American resources to be transferred, to be "switched" partly to the Pacific, to the Chinese section (Trump) must demand from his European partners that all of us in Europe, the European Union, NATO countries in particular, rise to the occasion," he added.
According to Morawiecki, Poland, since he was prime minister, has been fulfilling its obligations as a member state of the transatlantic alliance by paying high contributions to the NATO budget.
"Today, we are the country among the 32 NATO countries that allocates the largest percentage of its budget to defense policy. Our words were followed by actions. It is different in Europe. These words, which I have been hearing for a year, two, three, are not followed by actions," Morawiecki emphasised.
Morawiecki believes that Europe has a very powerful instrument in its hands that would allow it to end the war quickly, but it still has not reached for it: frozen Russian assets.
"Let's take these assets and Russia will immediately sit down at the table, because it will be afraid that it will lose 300-350 billion dollars forever," argues the head of the European Conservatives and Reformists group.
Watch the entire interview with Mateusz Morawiecki on Euronews in the program The Europe Conversation in the player above.
