Tusk conveyed his concerns in a phone call with German Chancellor Merz, emphasizing Poland’s essential role in dialogues concerning Ukraine’s future and regional stability. He noted that Italian Prime Minister Meloni shares his viewpoint and proposed the establishment of an ‘E5’ format that would include Poland and Italy. Following Tusk’s remarks, Chancellor Merz reaffirmed a unified stance alongside Ukraine, highlighting a recent meeting with French President Macron and British Prime Minister Starmer, where they supported Ukrainian President Zelensky’s call for direct negotiations with Russian President Putin.