Poland is not in immediate danger, incidents mainly occur in the air; It still seems unlikely that Russia will decide to enter into an open conflict with NATO, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on TVN24 on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk is in Washington, where he and President Andrzej Duda will meet US leader Joe Biden at the White House on Tuesday. The meeting will take place on the 25th anniversary of Poland’s accession to NATO.
In an interview for TVN24, the head of government was asked whether he took into account the Polish war “for survival and existence” in different scenarios.
Tusk said it was not his job to put Poland in a bad mood, but given such a geographical location “we must be aware that denying what is happening around us does not increase our security.”
Poland is not directly threatened. As we know, incidents happen, especially in the air. There is no relief from the doubt that Russia is not and will not be peaceful towards the West, towards NATO, and especially towards NATO’s western flank, including Poland. But it still seems highly unlikely that Russia will decide to enter into open conflict with NATO. When will this become more likely? When NATO practically no longer functions
– said Tusk.
Tusk responds to President Duda’s proposal
I warned President Andrzej Duda to assume that there would not be an enthusiastic response to his proposal that NATO countries spend 3 percent. Defense GDP; if we could encourage our partners to meet the 2% threshold. With the gross domestic product (GDP) we would probably have more money than weapons in the world – said Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
The Prime Minister emphasized that in the field of security and mutual allied obligations, contacts between individual centers in Poland and with the US are ongoing, including regarding proposals that could be made during the leaders’ meeting.
I would be cautious about such expectations, which will almost certainly not be realized
– said the head of government.
When asked whether it was about Monday’s statement by President Duda, who announced during a meeting of the National Security Council that he would call on NATO allies to adopt the 3% threshold. On defense spending, Tusk stated that “the president has the right to formulate his initiatives.”
I absolutely do not deprive anyone of this right, especially not the President of the Republic of Poland. However, I immediately asked whether it was not more important to convince our partners to comply with this 2 percent. (currently adopted NATO defense spending threshold – PAP) and honestly, if everyone met this 2%. threshold, they probably had more money than there is to buy weapons in the entire world
– said Tusk.
I cautioned Mr. President against assuming that there would be no enthusiastic response to such proposals. Mr. President also has his arguments and says that he is willing to take the risk, for example 3%. – maybe this will motivate those who pay less than 2%, so that it will act as a cold shower for them. But I’m not implying ill will in any way… it’s okay
– added the Prime Minister.
President Duda announced Monday at the National Security Council that during his visit to the White House and the next visit to NATO Headquarters in Brussels, he wanted to propose “that NATO countries jointly decide that the Alliance’s demand will be not to percent, only 3 percent to spend on %. Defense GDP.
This will be the limit below which it is absolutely not recommended to go
– said the president.
NATO member states are obliged under the North Atlantic Treaty to continuously maintain and develop their own defense capabilities; Currently, NATO recognizes that to meet this requirement, each country must spend at least 2 percent. own GDP, but some countries do not meet this requirement. Currently, Poland spends the largest percentage of GDP on defense (4.23 percent of GDP), followed by the US, with around 3.5 percent. GDP. Above the 2% threshold. there are also: the Baltic states and Great Britain, but countries such as France, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Italy or Canada do not meet this requirement. This year, according to Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s statement, the 2% threshold was reached by Germany.
“We are the most stable partner for the United States.”
Prime Minister Donald Tusk said in Washington that Poland has a greater responsibility for what happens in the world than most European countries. The political consensus in our country on security issues makes Poland the most stable partner of the US, he noted in an interview for TVN24.
We are the only western country that borders both Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, we are the largest country in the region, we pay the most money for our own defense, we are the most stable partner for the United States
– said Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
Poland has a greater responsibility for what happens in the world than most European countries
– said the Prime Minister in Washington.
We must be prepared that this bad scenario does not come true
– he explained.
He emphasized that his and President Andrzej Duda’s visit to the US is not a visit to “celebrate” the anniversary of Poland’s accession to NATO because, as he said, it is not the right time for celebration. As he added, the visit takes place because we are in a war situation – for some, and in a pre-war situation – for the whole world.
He explained that there is political consensus in Poland on Russia and Ukraine and that “this is our treasure.”
I wish our allies, including the United States, could say this about themselves. That no matter who is in power or who wins the elections, some things are constant and inviolable, including the solidarity that comes from transatlantic ties
– said Tusk.
If only everyone in NATO, including the United States, was as predictable as Poland on security matters
– emphasized the head of the Polish government.
Tusk: Europe must believe in the possibility of quickly transforming its economic power into military power
To effectively deter Vladimir Putin, Europe must believe it is possible, even quickly, to translate financial and economic power into military power, says Donald Tusk.
To effectively deter Putin – both in terms of his actions in Ukraine and his possible aggressive intentions towards Europe – Europe must believe that it is possible, even in a short time, to transform its financial and economic power, including in terms of population. , into a powerful military force
– said the head of government.
According to the Prime Minister, if Europe is as strong militarily as it is economically, financially, technologically and culturally, no one in the world will decide to take aggressive steps against Europe.
According to Tusk, this is the most effective way to help Ukraine.
When asked where he imagined the defense of the Republic of Poland: 500 kilometers from Kiev, near Kiev, near Lviv or in our country, he replied: “I do not get carried away in speculations about where a Polish soldier with a weapon should are in his hand for the defense of the fatherland.”
For now, we must do everything we can to help Ukraine enough to stop Putin on the Ukrainian-Russian front. Let’s not speculate on what a possible, but in my opinion avoidable, worst-case scenario will look like
– noted the Prime Minister.
According to the head of government, “there is a gradual realization that Europe must become increasingly independent and mature, that the period of military, geopolitical childhood and early youth is behind us.”
It must be assumed that regardless of who wins the elections in the United States, these expectations of America will be increasingly greater towards Europe as a whole.
– he pointed out.
Tusk: Sanctions must stop being fictional
Sanctions should no longer be fictitious sanctions; Half of Europe still trades with Russia and Belarus, Donald Tusk said. He added that frozen Russian assets could be transferred to the Ukrainians, but that European capitals were unwilling to do so.
The head of government, who is in Washington and speaks on TVN24 about aid to Ukraine, noted that sanctions against Russia “should no longer be fictitious sanctions.”
Half of Europe still trades with Russia and Belarus, many companies, including those in Poland, are successfully evading the sanctions because no one is interested in really vigorously enforcing them.
– said Tusk.
He added that there were also frozen Russian assets, which – as he said – would be sufficient to wage a victorious war. When asked why they could not be used, the Prime Minister replied: “Because in those capitals where we hear loud, pro-Ukrainian words, when it comes down to it we say, for example: let’s take these Russian assets with us, if I take them to Ukraine transfer, there appear to be some problems.”
Today I can proudly say that Poland behaves extremely rationally and responsibly, courageously, but without gambling
– said the Prime Minister.
“We cannot ignore the issue of army numbers today.”
Prime Minister Donald Tusk emphasized that the current size of the army cannot be underestimated. He pointed out that on a modern battlefield two issues can be decisive: ammunition and the number of soldiers.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk is in Washington, where he and President Andrzej Duda will meet US leader Joe Biden at the White House on Tuesday.
In an interview for TVN24, the head of government was asked about the size of the Polish army.
As you know, this number is 300,000. Soldiers have already fallen in the past. For me it is very important that we talk about the number of soldiers who will be ready to fight in a critical situation
– he answered. He added that “we cannot ignore the issue of army numbers today.”
The Prime Minister said that “some in the West” still do not seem to realize that on a modern battlefield, as the war in Ukraine shows, two issues can be decisive. The first is ammunition.
Artillery is absolutely crucial when it comes to war on land, and today we have ammunition shortages everywhere
– he explained. He said the second issue is the mobilization of people, that is, the number of soldiers.
Tusk reminded that new operational plans will be prepared, which had already been announced by the Deputy Prime Minister and the Head of the Ministry of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.
The situation has changed. His predecessors had drawn up and adopted operational plans, that is, a strategy, for 2022. But President Duda himself said yesterday that so much has changed in less than two years that of course we urgently need to prepare new operational plans.
– he explained.
He added that the exact figures will follow from there. But as he emphasized, the most important thing is that the military is prepared to take action.
tkwl/PAP
Source: wPolityce