Tusk described the get-together as an effort to seek a united Western front against Russia.
Speaking to reporters before departing for the German capital, Tusk said the goal of the meeting was to agree on compromise proposals made in good faith by the United States, Europe and Ukraine—and to press Russia to take them seriously.
“On one side, there is America, Europe and Ukraine, with agreed, compromise conditions for a ceasefire and future peace,” Tusk said. “On the other side is Russia, which we all want to persuade, through this united American-European-Ukrainian front, to finally treat these proposals seriously.”
The talks brought together leaders from Poland, Germany, France, Britain, Italy and the Netherlands with Ukraine's Zelensky, alongside a US delegation, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Tusk said negotiations were being conducted discreetly and initially involved only a small group of national security advisers who worked out a draft document outlining potential peace terms.
Tusk said the document included provisions Poland considered essential and was due to be made public later on Monday.
He added that the process would require difficult compromises, particularly for Ukraine after years of heavy fighting, but said he sees “good will” among Ukrainian, European and US negotiators to find common ground.
The Polish leader said Poland’s role was to ensure that any proposals do not weaken the country’s security.
“That task has been carried out 100 percent,” Tusk said, adding that Warsaw was also focused on preserving close cooperation between Europe and the United States.
Tusk also said he intended to press allies in Berlin on security guarantees for Poland and NATO’s eastern flank accompanying a possible ceasefire or peace deal in Ukraine, particularly in terms of the future presence of US forces in the region.
“I will be asking to what extent any prospects of peace or a ceasefire in Ukraine would mean a greater, smaller or unchanged American presence—these physical guarantees not only for Ukraine, but above all for Poland and other countries on the eastern border of the EU and NATO," he said.
Washington has signalled that it views Poland as a key ally in the region and that there are no plans to reduce US security commitments, Tusk also said, though he cautioned that "we will see how this looks in practice."
Preliminary ceasefire talks between Ukrainian and US delegations began in Berlin on Sunday and continued on Monday, with Tusk and other European leaders joining Zelensky and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
The European Union was represented by European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and NATO by Secretary-General Mark Rutte, the PAP news agency reported.
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Source: IAR, PAP