Speaking before a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Tusk confirmed he was travelling at the invitation of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky.
He said he would be accompanied by his finance and economy minister, Andrzej Domański.
Reconstruction conference
Tusk said Domański’s presence was linked to preparations for an international conference on Ukraine’s reconstruction that Poland plans to host in June in the coastal city of Gdańsk.
"It is no coincidence that I will be accompanied on this visit by Finance and Economy Minister Andrzej Domański, who, together with his team, is preparing a global conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine," Tusk told reporters.
The conference is intended to lay the groundwork for rebuilding efforts once the war ends or a ceasefire is reached.
The Polish prime minister said reconstruction would involve "major investment and major funds," and added that Poland wanted to be involved.
'A moment to catch our breath'
Referring to recent Russian attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure in Ukraine, Tusk said assurances reportedly given by Moscow to suspend strikes during freezing temperatures had not been honoured.
"Last night and this morning were again marked by brutal attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure," he said. "More victims, more ruins."
According to Ukraine’s defence ministry, temperatures across the country have fallen below minus 20°C, as Russia launched a large-scale overnight assault.
More than 70 missiles and some 450 attack drones were fired at targets across several regions, including Sumy, Kharkiv, Kyiv and the surrounding area, as well as Dnipro, Odesa and Vinnytsia.
Tusk said Ukrainian partners had suggested that visits by foreign leaders might slightly reduce the scale of Russian attacks.
"Maybe thanks to your visit, at least for a moment, we will be able to catch our breath," he quoted them as saying.
He added that while such visits could not stop the war, it was important to show that Poland, as Ukraine’s closest neighbour and ally, remained by its side.
Ukrainian energy system under strain after Russian strikes
Ukraine continues to face the effects of sustained Russian strikes on its energy infrastructure.
Electricity supplies remain severely limited nationwide, with Kyiv enduring prolonged power and heating outages as residents cope with harsh winter conditions.
(ał/gs)
Source: PAP