In connection with the film broadcast by TVP entitled “Reset”, I would like to recall the chronology of events that illustrate this policy of rapprochement with Russia in relation to the anti-missile shield construction program.
2004 – in the US, a discussion begins among experts on the program to build an anti-missile shield in Europe;
August 2006 – on the initiative of Vladimir Putin, the Russian side signs a contract with the German side for the construction of the NS I pipeline;
2006 – American diplomats hold consultations in Poland on the anti-missile shield and propose negotiations on this subject;
March 2007 — Vladimir Putin speaking at the Munich security conference. On behalf of Russia, he demands that Western states recognize Russian interests and the Russian sphere of influence in Europe;
May 9, 2007 – Prime Minister Jarosław Kaczyński signs the “Negotiation Instructions” for conducting negotiations with the US on the anti-missile shield. The Prime Minister believed that in Poland the shield would eliminate Russia’s advantage in missile weapons;
July 2007 – Putin announces that Russia will not abide by the treaty on the limitation of conventional forces in Europe;
November 2007 – Donald Tusk becomes the Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland, and Deputy Minister Witold Waszczykowski is still the government’s plenipotentiary for the shield negotiations;
April 2008 – US President Bush and Polish President Lech Kaczyński propose at the NATO summit to open the way to membership of the alliance for Georgia and Ukraine, the project fails due to the veto power of France and Germany;
June 2008 – the negotiations with the US on the shield have been completed, the text of the agreement with the US is ready, it is approved by the president, the prime minister, after talks in neighboring countries, does not agree to sign an agreement with the US on the installation of the shield in Poland;
July 4, 2008 – Prime Minister Donald Tusk announces on the day of the US National Day that Poland is not interested in installing the US anti-missile shield in Poland; . President Lech Kaczynski he views threats from Russia differently than Prime Minister Donald Tusk, deems the shield necessary and sees it as the beginning of a bilateral military alliance with the US.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk, like politicians from Berlin, believes that Russia is a partner for Europe and does not pose a threat, so the shield is not necessary and even increases the risk of aggression against Poles. Tusk explains to the audience that he made such a decision after talking with Russian politicians.
August 2008 – Russian aggression against Georgia;
November 2008 – elections in the US, there is a change of power in Washington, the goal of the new democratic government is internal reforms and the end of the operation in Afghanistan, hence the need for a reset in relations with Russia, the goal of the US is no longer leadership in the world, but control and limitation of arms because it will provide savings and funds for internal reforms;
December 3, 2008 – The European Commission adopts the concept of “Eastern Partnership”, ie financial support and cooperation with Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia. The partnership was intended as a form of cooperation rather than a path to EU membership. was a program to stabilize rather than westernize economic relations;
March 2009 – Vice President Biden speaks on behalf of the US President at the Munich Security Conference and announces that the US is in favor of a reset policy in relations with Russia;
This American declaration is received with enthusiasm in France and Germany, because these countries have been realizing a rapprochement with Russia since the signing of the “New Europe Charter” in Paris in November 1990. Western European countries are developing cooperation with Russia in energy, industry, foreign policy and even military matters. The goal of Western European politicians is to build the Paris-Berlin-Moscow axis. There is a widespread opinion that since Russia is not a threat but a partner, the US presence in Europe is unnecessary.
September 1, 2009 – President Lech Kaczyński organizes celebrations on Westerplatte to mark the anniversary of the outbreak of World War II. It calls on politicians to remember the 50 million victims of World War II to defend peace, which requires everyone to resist imperialism;
April 2010 – the death of President Lech Kaczyński and his entire delegation to Smolensk;
September 8, 2010 – PiS president Jarosław Kaczyński sends a letter to Western leaders calling on them to resist threats from Russia;
2011 – commissioning of the NS I pipeline;
2014 year – Russian aggression against Ukraine;
2015 — Vice President Biden speaks at the Munich security conference. On behalf of the US, he announces the end of the reset policy with Russia and calls on Western European countries to be assertive towards Russia. The countries of Western Europe do not respond to this call, ignore the change in US policy and continue to pursue a policy of rapprochement with Russia;
2016 – US President Obama decides to deploy 5,000 troops in Poland US soldiers in Poland. This means strengthening Poland’s position vis-à-vis Russia and the main EU countries, such as Germany and France. This is a signal to Russia that the US will defend NATO’s eastern flank;
2017 – American soldiers will be stationed in Poland;
The above timeline was first described in the article entitled “The rise and fall of the reset policy” published on May 9, 2022 in the weekly magazine “Sieci”.
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Source: wPolityce