As neighbours, partners and friends, Poland and Germany had been through a “painful and varied history.” This is what Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Monday during the inaugural visit of the new Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk to the Chancellery in Berlin.

The Federal Chancellor recalled that in 2024 it would be 85 years since the Nazi attack on Poland and the destruction of Warsaw. The suffering that Germans had inflicted on their Polish neighbours in the Second World War had been immeasurable, said Scholz: “Germany is aware of its heavy burden of guilt and the responsibility this means in terms of ensuring a future of peace between the two countries.” In addition, he noted: “There is no drawing the line under this responsibility we bear for our history.”

Russia as a threat to peace

According to Scholz, German responsibility extends to the defence of peace and freedom in Europe. The Federal Chancellor said this was relevant to the current security situation in Europe, too. This was why Germany and Poland were united by the desire for a just peace, stability and security in Europe, said Scholz – something that was truer today than it had ever been before, he added, since the Russian war in Ukraine was a threat to peace.

Solidarity is vital

The Federal Chancellor said that as partners in the European Union and as allies in NATO, the two countries were in agreement: “Our solidarity and our concerted action are indispensable.” In view of the sheer size of Germany’s eastern neighbour, Scholz particularly emphasised: “The security of Poland is our security, too. This is something we feel responsible for.”

“All for one, one for all”

 NATO’s mutual defence agreement applied without restriction, said Scholz: “All for one, one for all” – any relativisation of this would be irresponsible and dangerous. No one should trifle or trade with Europe’s security, the Federal Chancellor warned.

Germany contributed significantly to the security of Europe, said Scholz, especially through its presence and commitment along the entire NATO eastern flank, adding that he intended to further strengthen this commitment within NATO. This was directly linked to the political, military and financial support being provided for Ukraine, he said. The latter had defended itself “tirelessly and heroically” for almost exactly two years, said Scholz.

Aid from Europe and the USA as a matter of urgency

Germany and Poland were among the biggest supporters of Ukraine in its stand against the “imperialist aggressor” Russia, stressed the Federal Chancellor, and this support would continue based on even closer cooperation – also at the European level.

The financial assistance of 50 billion euros to be provided to Ukraine up until 2027 which was agreed on at the European Council meeting sent out a crucial signal, Scholz said, adding that the hope now was that the US Congress would also approve the necessary funds.

Military assistance: Germany provides support for Ukraine by supplying equipment and weapons; these come from supplies of the Federal Armed Forces and from deliveries from industry financed from the Federal Government’s funds for security capacity building. See here for a summary.

Fresh impetus for the Weimar Triangle

Federal Chancellor Scholz said that cooperation with France should also be advanced on a trilateral basis, not least by giving fresh impetus to the “Weimar Triangle” at the level of the heads of state and government.

In this connection, Scholz  also noted that the foreign ministers of the Weimar Triangle were due to meet in France on Monday. The shared objective of the three countries was to bring to fruition the enlargement of the European Union by including more members, said the Federal Chancellor, adding that the European Union had to emerge stronger from this enlargement. This would also require reforms in the EU itself, he said, in order for it to retain its flexibility.

The Weimar Triangle dialogue platform was launched in 1991 at the initiative of the Federal Government. On 28 August 1991, the birthday of poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the then Foreign Ministers of Germany, France and Poland – Hans-Dietrich Genscher, Roland Dumas and Krzysztof Skubiszewski – met in Weimar for the first meeting in this format. Their goal was to identify shared fundamental interests for the future of Europe and to further develop cooperation across borders.

Sound economic ties

Federal Chancellor Scholz described the economic ties between Poland and Germany as a “success story”, saying that there was lively exchange and reliable value chains between the two countries, not least reflected in a trade volume of almost 170 billion euros.

After energy supplies from Russia dropped after the outbreak of the war, said Scholz, Poland supported Germany in the search for alternatives in order to maintain German energy security. “I would like to express my thanks for this,” said the Federal Chancellor.

Donald Tusk was born in Gdansk in 1957. From 2014 to 2019, he was President of the European Council, having previously been Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland from 2007 to 2014. He was once again elected as Polish Prime Minister on 13 December 2023, and was now received by Federal Chancellor Scholz with military honours.