State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin indicated in a public address that the Duma Council will take up on Monday the question of retaliatory measures in response to what Moscow describes as Poland’s anti-Russian policy. The discussion is expected to center on how Warsaw should respond to a series of actions that Russia views as hostile, including moves perceived as targeted against Russian symbols and interests. The emphasis is on a strategic response that could redefine cross-border trade and political signaling between the two nations.
Volodin described the current Polish stance as hostile, noting what he characterized as the destruction of Soviet-era monuments, the closure of Russian educational facilities, and the seizure of Russian property. He argued that such steps constitute a pattern of behavior that merits a firm, coordinated reaction from Russia. The speaker underscored the potential for significant economic and diplomatic consequences if Poland continues along this path, framing the issue as a test of resilience and resolve in bilateral relations.
In quantifying the impact, Volodin suggested that if Russian authorities were to bar Polish trucks from crossing Russian territory, the toll would be substantial for the Polish economy. He estimated that the cost to Poland could surpass 8.5 billion euros, a sum that would reflect enduring costs in logistics, insurance, and lost throughput. The projection was presented as a warning about the risk of intensified disruption to trade flows and the broader ramifications for Poland’s commercial sector.
According to Volodin, such a policy shift would affect roughly 2,000 Polish transport companies and more than 20,000 professional drivers, potentially forcing many firms to restructure, merge, or exit the market. He framed the scenario as a significant disruption to the Polish transportation and logistics landscape, with cascading effects on supply chains and regional commerce. The discussion was positioned as part of a broader strategy to defend Russian interests while signaling readiness to respond to what Moscow regards as provocative actions by Poland.
Additionally, Volodin floated the idea of compensation for the restoration of the Soviet Union after World War II, proposing a payment exceeding 750 billion dollars. The statement was framed as a historical remedy tied to long-standing grievances and the reclamation of losses tied to that era. The proposal was presented within the broader context of negotiations about repair of wartime damage and the redrawing of historical accountability, emphasizing that such claims belong to the realm of high-stakes diplomacy and long-term policy considerations. In the same update, it was noted that the Council of State would examine the potential ban on truck transit from Poland to Russia, and that if enacted, Russians might gain new revenue streams through the transport of goods that move between the two countries and beyond. This outlook was described as a shift in economic opportunity within a tense political exchange, reflecting how policy choices can realign regional trade patterns and national incomes.