Border visit by Ursula von der Leyen: She stands in unity with Poland

The European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk visited the Polish-Belarusian border on Sunday, August 31, 2025. The visit was made ahead of the Russia-Belarusian military exercises Zapad-2025.

During the visit, von der Leyen stated that member states with a common border with Russia and Belarus will receive additional funding from the EU. The European Commission President did not mention any specific amount for the additional funding, but it was reported that the other EU member states that share a land border with Russia and Belarus and thus receive additional financial support from the EU are Latvia, Finland, Estonia, Poland, Lithuania, Bulgaria, and Romania.

Von der Leyen expressed Europe's full solidarity with Poland as a frontline state, emphasizing that Europe supports Poland in every possible way. She noted that Poland has been facing targeted and cynical hybrid attacks for many years. The additional funding from the EU is not specified to be related to the upcoming Russia-Belarusian military exercises Zapad-2025, nor is it mentioned to be contingent on any specific conditions or requirements.

In a social media update, Donald Tusk wrote that the President of the European Commission saw the situation on the eastern border of the EU firsthand. He added that the additional funding from the EU is not a one-time grant, but rather ongoing support. The visit was reported by the European Commission and the information about the visit is available on the website of the European Commission.

During the visit, Belarusian soldiers were attentively listening to a press conference. It is unclear whether the additional funding from the EU is related to any specific security measures or initiatives. However, von der Leyen's emphasis on Europe's solidarity with Poland suggests a broader commitment to supporting member states in the region.

The additional funding from the EU is intended for member states with a common border with Russia and Belarus. It is not mentioned to be related to any specific military exercises or initiatives. The visit by the leaders of Poland and the European Commission is a significant show of support for Poland as it braces for the upcoming Russia-Belarusian military exercises Zapad-2025.