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Poland's Tusk, France's Macron urge swift end to Middle East war

20.04.2026 20:00
Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk and French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday urged a swift end to the war in the Middle East during talks in the Polish Baltic city of Gdańsk.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk (right) and French President Emmanuel Macron (left) attend a joint news conference in Gdańsk, northern Poland, on Monday, April 20, 2026.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk (right) and French President Emmanuel Macron (left) attend a joint news conference in Gdańsk, northern Poland, on Monday, April 20, 2026.Photo: PAP/Adam Warżawa

Macron visited Poland for security and defence talks with Tusk and to attend a Polish-French intergovernmental summit following last year's signing of a treaty on enhanced cooperation and friendship.

Speaking at a joint news conference, Tusk said a quick end to the US-Israeli war with Iran was in the interest of the Western world, warning that the conflict risked weakening support for Ukraine in its defence against Russia.

Tusk said de-escalation in the Middle East was an "absolute priority" and called for efforts to reach agreements that could end or at least significantly reduce the violence, Polish state news agency PAP reported.

"A quick end to the war in the Middle East lies in the interest of all of us, especially the Western community," Tusk said.

He argued that the conflict has undermined the determination of some countries to support Ukraine against Russia's invasion.

"From our perspective, the clear beneficiary of this war has been Vladimir Putin and Russia," Tusk said, pointing to high fuel prices and tensions within NATO and the West.

Tusk also decried Washington's move to extend a temporary waiver on Russian oil sanctions, saying the decision was difficult to understand.

He said that developments in Iran had not produced the expected weakening of the country's leadership, despite earlier hopes that mass protests would galvanise international support for pro-democracy movements.

"That justification has turned out to be an illusion," Tusk said, calling for peace in Lebanon and an end to violence in Gaza.

He also highlighted the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route, expressing hope for "rational decisions" to ensure stability.

Macron also stressed the need for de-escalation, including on "nuclear and ballistic issues," to restore regional stability and freedom of navigation, the PAP news agency reported.

"We have the means to act together with all parties involved, and we have been doing so since the beginning of the conflict," he was quoted as saying.

Tensions in the Middle East escalated on February 28 following US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Tehran responded by launching attacks on Israel as well as US military bases and civilian infrastructure in Gulf countries, and by closing the Strait of Hormuz to shipping—a key route for oil and gas exports to Asia and, to a lesser extent, Europe.

The United States retaliated by imposing a blockade on Iranian ports. Both sides have since restricted traffic in the waterway and dispute the legality of each other’s actions.

A two-week ceasefire is set to expire on Wednesday.

The stated aim of the US-Israeli strikes has been to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

Tehran denies pursuing such weapons, though it has limited inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency and enriched uranium to levels far beyond civilian needs, according to reports.

(gs)

Source: PAP, IAR