Poland's Tusk says he will push for West's full commitment to Ukraine

WARSAW (Reuters) -Poland's newly appointed prime minister, Donald Tusk, said on Tuesday his country will demand the full mobilisation of the West to help Ukraine, adding it will regain a leadership position in Europe and will be a strong part of NATO.

Poland's parliament backed Tusk to become prime minister on Monday, ending eight years of nationalist rule and putting the country on track for a thawing of relations with the European Union.

Tusk, a former European Council president, will face a vote of confidence later on Tuesday.

"We will ... loudly and decisively demand the full mobilisation of the free world, the Western world, to help Ukraine in this war," Tusk said in parliament, presenting his government's plans.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is due to hold talks with U.S. leaders on Tuesday, making his case for more U.S. aid for Ukraine's war against Russia at a time of increasing doubts among many Republican lawmakers.

Tusk added Poland's eastern border would be secure and vowed to quickly solve issues related to a truckers' protest on several border crossings with Ukraine.

EU LEADER

Tusk also told parliament Poland would be a loyal ally of the United States and that it would regain its position as a leader of the European Union, but said he would oppose any changes of EU treaties that would disadvantage Poland.

"Any attempts to change treaties that are against our interests are out of the question ... no one will outplay me in the European Union," he said.

He also vowed to "bring back billions of euros" from Brussels this week, referring to European Union funds frozen under the previous government due to a row over the rule of law.

"After returning from Brussels, I will go to Tallinn to meet the prime ministers of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Topics are obvious: the war, safe borders. We will strengthen cooperation with countries that share our views on this matter."

(Reporting by Anna Koper, Alan Charlish and Pawel Florkiewicz; Writing by Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk; Editing by Alison Williams and Tomasz Janowski)