Poland’s foreign minister warned that Kremlin denials may be misleading, recalling past tactics and urging allies to remain coordinated and vigilant.
Despite the Kremlin’s denial of reports in the media about possible aggressive actions by Russia against Poland, Moscow’s statements may be false, as that is exactly the path the Kremlin chose before the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
In Warsaw, during a meeting with Polish ambassadors, Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski commented on the words of the Kremlin spokesman Peskov, who called reports about Russia’s possible preparation of provocations against Poland “Western propaganda” and “demonization of Russia”.
Reaction to the Kremlin’s statements
This is precisely what they said a few weeks before the invasion of Ukraine. They categorically denied any intent to attack Ukraine. They also previously denied that the “little green men” in Crimea were Russian troops, and claimed that weapons could supposedly be bought by anyone in a store
– Radosław Sikorski
According to the foreign minister, while Ukraine defends itself and inflicts significant losses on Russia, Moscow has no real chance of mounting a large-scale offensive in the West, notably against Poland.
“That is why we are helping Ukraine. However, Russia is capable of carrying out provocations,” said Sikorski.
He also noted that statements by the Russian authorities should not be taken as a guarantee of the absence of a threat. “If representatives of the Russian authorities say that this will not happen, they may be lying. But they could also have abandoned their intentions after our warnings,” the minister said.
The Polish foreign minister also stressed that the defense minister’s decision to disclose information about all military aid deliveries to Ukraine from 2022 to 2026 should positively influence Ukrainian-Polish relations.
“This should positively affect Poland’s relations with Ukraine, as it will show how large our assistance has been,” he noted.
Commenting on the latest disputes between Warsaw and Kyiv, Sikorski stated that certain decisions by the Ukrainian side (for example, granting the Ukrainian unit the “name of a UPA hero”) do not change the main threat to the region and that Vladimir Putin poses a threat to Ukraine, NATO, and Poland.
Relying on emotions alone is teenage geopolitics
– Radosław Sikorski
The foreign minister concluded that Moscow has repeatedly demonstrated a willingness to sow discord among allies, but the main threats require measured coordination between Warsaw, Kyiv, and NATO.
In the context of events, the Polish authorities also emphasize that intelligence services data about possible provocations confirms the importance of transparent cooperation with partners and supporting public safety.
Declassification of information about military aid to Ukraine after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion aims to strengthen trust between Warsaw and Kyiv and demonstrate the scale of Poland’s support.
Ultimately, Radosław Sikorski calls for thoughtful policy and a calm response to any statements from Russia, in order not to destabilize the region, but to strengthen security and cooperation among partner countries.