Improving Relations with Russia
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has just met his Russian counterpart, Victor Zubkhov, in Moscow. Over the past two years, tensions have been high between Warsaw and Moscow due primarily to the American missile defence plan and the previous government's tendency towards animosity, and one of Tusk's objectives as prime minister is to ease those tensions and form a partnership with Russia.
As a result of the meeting, the two prime ministers have signed an agreement on the protection of confidential information for the purpose of counteracting terrorism. They have also discussed issues of trade between the two countries. Donald Tusk will also meet with outgoing Russian president Vladimir Putin to discuss the more difficult issues harming relations between the two countries, particularly the proposed American missile shield. The two leaders will discuss new ways in which Russia and Poland can co-operate. Most importantly, both leaders are looking for common ground, and the prime minister's visit is a good first step towards developing good relations between the two countries.