Poland's Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, warned about Russia's plans to attack countries supporting Ukraine. In a meeting with Polish lawmakers on Thursday, Tusk stated that Russia intends to send drones or missiles into NATO territory and then claim that these incidents were 'accidental.'
Potential Attacks and Impact on NATO
Tusk's warning came after several incidents related to Russia occurred on NATO's eastern flank. He said that these potential attacks 'aim to paralyze NATO' or 'at least weaken the alliance's willingness to respond collectively,' emphasizing that NATO's Article 5 'exists only in theory.'
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Threats and Intelligence Support
Tusk mentioned that he has received information from NATO, Ukraine, and U.S. agencies but did not provide further details. He stressed that 'there are no signs of an invasion,' but warned that Poland, as one of Ukraine's main supporters, is facing a real test.
Tusk also referred to political changes in Europe that, according to him, weaken NATO's commitment to Ukraine. He pointed to pro-Russian political parties gaining power in Europe, including Marine Le Pen's National Rally in France and Alternative for Germany, stating that these parties, while citing symbols of peace, are calling for Ukraine's surrender.
Furthermore, Tusk raised questions about NATO members' attention to the eastern flank, stating that Poland, due to its proximity to Russia and Ukraine, is likely to need its allies' loyalty under Article 5 more than others.
Following Tusk's speech, President Trump announced progress in establishing a permanent U.S. military base in Poland. Trump stated on social media, 'If this happens, the location will be announced soon.'
Tusk's warning came at the end of a week marked by airspace violations and incidents that European countries attribute to Russia. On Sunday, a Russian drone collided with a passenger train in Ukraine near the Polish border, and on Monday, the Polish army announced that it had recovered a Russian drone off the northwestern coast of the country.
European countries are gradually discussing what they consider a coordinated campaign of hybrid attacks on their territories. These incidents include sabotage actions, cyberattacks, or misinformation, but do not reach the level of an act of war.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has denied these accusations, calling them 'fabricated' and 'far from reality.' However, Tusk's warning addresses both NATO and Moscow. Concluding his speech, he called for unity and a decisive response to any attack, reaffirming Poland's commitment to defending NATO.
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Source: npr.org
