There will be no stability in Europe, there will be no security and normal economic development will not return until the situation in Ukraine has calmed down, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on TVP Info on Tuesday.
The West is tired of war
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki noted that public sentiment in the West is growing weary of the war in Ukraine and that questions are rising about the rationale for Ukraine’s continued support.
Many may argue that the conflict lies far from their borders. Yet stability in Europe, security for its citizens, and solid economic growth will remain out of reach until the Ukraine crisis finds a resolution, the prime minister asserted.
He also reflected on the January Uprising, marking its 160th anniversary this year. He recalled how Polish, Lithuanian, Belarusian and Ukrainian fighters once stood shoulder to shoulder against Russian power and brutality.
The prime minister emphasized that those who defend goodness, truth, and freedom are already victorious the moment they take up arms. Although their effort was aimed at a difficult, seemingly hopeless cause, independence owes much to their steadfast resolve, Morawiecki said.
In facing major geopolitical threats, he argued, unity around Poland’s sovereignty and its people’s security must be the guiding aim. This unity, he added, also strengthens the nation’s future and fills the homeland with pride.
“That’s why we’re building a strong army.”
Speaking on TVP Info, Morawiecki outlined expectations for the NATO summit in Vilnius, urging that it settle a timetable for strengthening preparedness forces. He called for the Madrid summit’s agreed approaches to be backed by clear deadlines when rapid response forces are announced, noting a slower pace in their implementation as a current challenge.
The prime minister argued that the country is actively building a robust army and a resilient defense industry, positioning Poland among Europe’s strongest land forces. He highlighted that lawful and well-managed public finances enable the Ministry of National Defense to allocate funds for armaments purchases worldwide and to expand Poland’s munitions production capacity.
Last year, on the eve of the Madrid Summit, the secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization announced a plan to expand the NATO Response Force, increasing the forward-ready strength. The NRF includes highly nimble forces designed to respond quickly, and partner nations also contribute troops. This expansion aims to bolster collective defense and deterrence.
Border protection
Morawiecki, who visited Vilnius on Tuesday, stated that Poland and Lithuania shared the same stance on the border crisis with Belarus. They acted in concert, reinforcing borders at the same time as part of the early response to hybrid threats that signaled a broader conflict and the threat of a conventional war in Ukraine.
He stressed that the two countries approached the situation in lockstep, recognizing the urgent need to tighten border controls and coordinate actions to safeguard sovereignty and regional stability.
kk/PAP
Source: wPolityce