WARSAW, Poland (AP) - Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk issued a grave warning on Thursday, highlighting that Russia is believed to be planning hybrid attacks utilizing drones or rockets against European nations supporting Ukraine, particularly Poland. Tusk made these remarks during a speech at the Polish parliament, emphasizing the potential seriousness of the threat.
Tusk explained that Russia might attempt to mask these attacks as accidental incidents, aiming to "paralyze or at least weaken the motivation of NATO countries" to respond effectively to an ally under assault. "There is a real risk that drones or other types of projectiles will enter the territory of one or several countries on the eastern flank and even cause destruction," he cautioned, indicating that the official narrative might portray these aggressive actions as mere accidents.
The Prime Minister specifically highlighted the escalating danger posed by Russia, as they increasingly deploy jet-powered drones that operate at higher altitudes and faster speeds, making them more challenging for air defense systems to detect before they reach their intended targets. Tusk has been vocal for months about the likelihood of Russia planning a more focused hybrid attack against a NATO member state, a concern he has elaborated on as he has received intelligence from NATO, Ukrainian, and U.S. intelligence agencies, including the CIA.
In recent developments, Tusk noted that Russia seems to be concentrating on targeting border crossings between Ukraine and its neighboring European countries to disrupt supply lines necessary for supporting Ukraine. He mentioned four incidents that occurred at Poland’s border with Ukraine over the past week, along with several similar occurrences on Ukraine’s border with Moldova. Tusk asserted that, at this point, Russia is not open to peace talks "without the total capitulation of Ukraine," predicting a harsh winter ahead for Ukraine.
Tusk recalled that during the previous winter, Poland had stepped in with essential deliveries when Ukraine's energy infrastructure faced attacks. However, he warned that if border crossings are destroyed, Poland's ability to extend such assistance in the forthcoming winter would be significantly hampered. He stressed that Russia's strategy aims to devastate Ukraine's economy and logistics, with intelligence suggesting that a "very high frequency and intensity" of attacks on six major Ukrainian cities should be anticipated soon.
In a bold move, Tusk announced his plans to travel to Ukraine overnight, a trip that can be perceived as a show of defiance against Russian aggression, particularly after European leaders narrowly avoided a drone strike on a train near the Polish-Ukrainian border on a recent Sunday. Notably, officials typically keep their travel plans to Ukraine confidential for security reasons.
During his visit to Kyiv, Tusk intends to discuss defense strategies against the evolving drone threats with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as well as engage with partners, including Slovakia, regarding potential further sanctions on Russia. Meanwhile, on the same day, U.S. President Donald Trump shared on Truth Social that progress is being made toward establishing a permanent U.S. Army base in Poland, following a delegation’s recent visit to potential sites in the country.
If realized, the announcement of this base is anticipated to be a significant milestone for the U.S.-Poland alliance. For years, Poland has sought to host a permanent U.S. military presence as a reinforcement of its security in light of rising Russian threats. Poland's substantial defense spending and major U.S. arms purchases have led the Trump administration to consider placing a permanent base in Poland, even amidst a broader reorganization of U.S. military presence across Europe.
In May, the U.S. unexpectedly withdrew around 10,000 troops from Poland, causing confusion among European allies and anxiety in Warsaw. However, officials from both Poland and the U.S. reassured that the withdrawal was temporary and that Poland would not suffer significant repercussions from the troop reorganization.
Claudia Ciobanu, The Associated Press
