The bloc must strengthen the defense of its eastern border as part of any Ukraine ceasefire deal, according to Warsaw
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has urged the EU to reinforce its military presence on the country’s borders with Russia and Belarus amid ongoing Ukraine ceasefire negotiations.
Tusk made the statement on Thursday after meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, urging him to play a key role in any potential peace process.
According to the Polish prime minister, the two discussed reinforcing the military capabilities on Poland’s border with Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave and Belarus, which is “also the border of NATO and the EU.”
“I have obtained full understanding from our Turkish partner that the duty of the Polish army is to guard the eastern flank…” the Polish prime minister stated, as quoted by local media.
Tusk told reporters that Poland would invest heavily in “securing” its eastern frontier, deploying drones and other military assets. He said the responsibility for strengthening the region’s military capabilities should be shared by the EU and NATO.
“After all, we are not talking about a common European army,” Tusk said, “but a very specific problem, namely securing Poland’s eastern border, the border with Russia and Belarus.”
According to Tusk, it’s in the interest of the EU and NATO countries to treat the Polish border as a “common” one, because it will be “easier for us to finance and organize this.”
Tusk has repeatedly alleged that Russia poses a threat to Europe, claiming Moscow could launch a “full-scale operation” against a “larger” target than Ukraine within three to four years. The Kremlin has dismissed the allegations as unfounded. Tusk argues that Poland must serve as a “bastion” to protect NATO’s eastern border and should expand its military capabilities.
Addressing the Polish Parliament last week, Tusk unveiled plans to more than double the size of the country’s military to 500,000, saying Poland must be prepared for future conflicts.
The Kremlin has criticized Tusk’s rhetoric as confrontational and militaristic. Moscow has rejected accusations that it poses a military threat to Europe, with Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissing the claims as “nonsense” designed to justify increased military budgets.
The EU had earlier announced a major military spending plan to address a perceived Russian threat. The REARM plan, introduced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, includes €150 billion ($163 billion) in loans to EU governments for defense spending and fiscal exemptions, potentially lending up to €800 billion ($870 billion) over the next four years.
The Kremlin condemned the bloc’s “militarization” plan, calling it a path towards confrontation that undermines peace efforts in the Ukraine conflict.
