Peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia could begin within the next several months, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk says, as further missiles are launched at cities in the war-torn country.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last week met with incoming US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron.
On Monday, Mr Zelensky expressed an openness to negotiations, saying he had told Mr Trump and Mr Macron that he did not believe Putin wanted to end the war.
Poland has been one of Ukraine's closest allies since Russia began its 2022 invasion.
On Tuesday, Mr Tusk said Warsaw would be heavily involved in any talks when it takes up the European Union's rotating presidency in January.
"I will have a series of talks concerning primarily the situation beyond our eastern border," he told a government meeting.
"As you can imagine, our delegation will be co-responsible for, among other things, what the political calendar will look like, perhaps what the situation will be like during the negotiations, which may, although there is still a question mark, start in the winter of this year."
Mr Tusk said he was in constant contact with Warsaw's Scandinavian and Baltic allies, and that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer would visit Warsaw in the early days of Poland's EU presidency.
"I really want Poland to be the country that will not only be present, but will set the tone for these decisions that are to bring us security and secure Polish interests."
Expert says Putin may not agree to truce
Despite Ukraine warming to potential negotiations, experts say a deal with Russia to end the conflict is not guaranteed.
Professor Tim Willasey-Wilsey from King's College London said with Russia continuing to gain ground in Ukraine's east, Russian President Vladimir Putin may have reason to prolong the conflict.
He said Mr Trump's arguments for reducing American aid to Kyiv, and political instability in both France and Germany, would weaken Ukraine's negotiating position.
"Putin may well think why don't I just carry on," Professor Willasey-Wilsey said.
"I do expect some negotiations in the next year, but let's face it, the situation looking forward is as clear as mud."
Professor Willasey-Wilsey added that he was anticipating Mr Putin's forces would attempt to make further territorial gains from April onwards, as Ukraine moved into summer.
Further missiles hit Ukraine
At least three people were killed and five hurt in a Russian missile strike that destroyed a private clinic in the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia on Tuesday, local governor Ivan Fedorov said.
Further missile attacks on Ukraine's north-eastern region of Kharkiv injured 10 people and damaged an administrative building, its governor said on Tuesday.
Governor Oleh Syniehubov said that Russian forces carried out two missile attacks on the town of Zlatopil.
The first strike damaged non-residential buildings and cars, while the second one damaged an administrative building.
Russia has pummelled the Kharkiv border region with frequent attacks since the start of Moscow's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
