WARSAW, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Saturday that all are paying a high price for the war of Israel and the United States against Iran, as well as the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
"Our response lies in firm but responsible decisions by the government and in national unity around security issues," Tusk said on social platform X.
A set of measures to lower fuel prices, including cutting value-added tax (VAT) and excise duties on fuel, and setting maximum fuel prices per liter, was announced by Tusk on Thursday and will take effect on Sunday.
Polish Energy Minister Milosz Motyka also said on social platform X on Saturday that "40 percent of finished diesel in Poland is imported," adding that Global markets are volatile due to the recent fuel price crisis. Poland is dependent on these markets and must be prepared for significant fluctuations.
The war erupted on Feb. 28 with U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Tehran and several other Iranian cities. Since then, the attacks have continued, targeting key Iranian military command centers, missile installations, energy infrastructures and nuclear facilities.
In response, Iran has launched over 80 waves of missile and drone strikes against Israel and U.S. military facilities across the Middle East.
In a major escalation, Iran has effectively blockaded the Strait of Hormuz, allowing only ships it considers non-hostile to pass. This maritime squeeze, along with damage to regional energy facilities, has pushed oil prices higher, keeping Brent Crude above 100 U.S. dollars a barrel and up more than 50 percent since the war began.
According to a recent World Trade Organization report, sustained high energy prices could reduce projected global GDP growth in 2026 by 0.3 percentage points.
