Steve Peoples, Associated Press National Political Correspondent
NEW YORK (AP) – Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Polish President Andrzej Duda in New York on Wednesday.
The planned dinner, officials confirmed, comes as European leaders prepare for a possible victory for Trump in the November election and his return to the White House. NATO leaders are particularly concerned given President Trump's long history of making critical comments about the important Western alliance, even after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The person was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Duda himself told reporters before leaving Warsaw for New York on Tuesday that he hoped to meet Trump “socially” if the deal went well. One of Duda's advisers also defended the meeting, which was seen as controversial in Poland.
“Today, for the Republic of Poland, there is no more important partner in international relations than the United States. It is precisely in this context that this meeting should be seen,” said advisor Małgorzata Papłocka.
Mr. Duda has long expressed his admiration for Mr. Trump and once suggested that the United States, based in Poland, could be named “Fort Trump,” but that never happened. President Trump welcomed Duda to the White House after a close re-election bid in 2020, giving him a boost as one of America's staunchest allies.
Poland shares a border with Ukraine and is a member of NATO. Duda, a right-wing populist whose term ends in 2025, has encouraged the United States to send additional funds to Ukraine to fight Russian aggression.
President Trump has expressed opposition to such funding, but in a possible change of direction late last week, Republican presidential candidates said they might support additional funding in the form of loans.
Trump is in New York this week for the start of his hush money criminal trial, which has severely restricted his campaign movements. He is now the first former president in U.S. history to face a criminal trial.
Meanwhile, Republicans in Washington are fighting within their ranks over massive foreign aid plans for Ukraine, Israel and other allies. Trump's “Make America Great Again” campaign specifically criticizes funding for Ukraine, which coincides with a softening of the Republican Party's stance toward Russia since Trump's rise in American politics. I am in a position to do so.
President Trump has long praised Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling his invasion of Ukraine “wise” and “sensible.” In February, he shocked the world when he told a rally that he would “encourage” NATO members who don't spend enough on defense to “do whatever they want” to Russia. Ta. He repeated the threat several days later.
Such a move would undermine Article 5, which states that an armed attack against one or more NATO members is considered an attack against all members.
Duda's political opponent, centrist Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, has criticized Trump's willingness to meet with him, calling the planned meeting a form of interference in the U.S. election campaign. Stated.
Tusk said that for the security of Europe and NATO, “a possible victory for President Trump is probably not beneficial” and that “almost every speech by President Trump has very clearly expressed anti-Ukrainian sentiments and pro-Russian attitudes.” It shows,” he said.
“But if the president does meet with Mr. Trump, we would expect him to raise the issue of clearly standing on the side of the Western world, democracy and Europe in this Ukraine-Russia conflict,” Tusk said. added.
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, another NATO member and a key supporter of support for Ukraine, met with President Trump at the former president's Florida mansion earlier this month, ahead of a visit with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Russia's European allies are also courting President Trump.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, the dictator who has maintained the closest ties to Russia among European Union countries, met privately with President Trump last month.
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Associated Press writers Jill Colvin in New York and Vanessa Gera in Warsaw, Poland, contributed to this report.
