Friedrich Merz, Germany's likely next head of government, is already trying to shape foreign policy. He is especially concerned about Germany's ailing relationships with France and Poland.

Nawrocki, a historian who is not formally a member of PiS, is tailoring his appeal to right-wing voters, many of whom harbor a dislike for Ukraine. The massacre of civilian Poles by Ukrainian guerrillas during World War II remains a sore point, and there is growing disenchantment in Poland with Ukrainian refugees and continuing aid for Ukraine.

Andrzej Duda makes pitch to be America's best friend in EU following comments by Fredrich Merz, in line to be Germany's next chancellor - Anadolu Ajansı

The US might go along with this though to accelerate the decline of Germany’s “peaceful” hegemony over the bloc in favor of a “multipolar EU” led by a

Germany is likely to reject Sir Keir Starmer’s plans to deploy a European peacekeeping force to Ukraine, throwing the proposals into disarray.

Warsaw has dramatically increased its defence spending as it looks to protect its borders and stay close to the US

The aerospace group's CEO is due to visit Warsaw shortly. He is hoping for a major order from the country, which has traditionally preferred to buy from the US.

Germany, Poland and Spain all signalled reluctance to deploy troops to the Ukraine as part of the settlement. Britain, France and Sweden spoke out in favour as they attempted to put pressure on their European allies to step up their support for Kyiv.