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Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz: Warning “not just said”
Photo: Piotr Nowak / EPA
February 24th marks the second anniversary of the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The world has been different since then, the NATO states have moved closer together, autocratic countries and the West are more divided than they have been for a long time. Poland is a NATO member and at the same time a neighbor of Russia - and, according to its defense minister, is in a precarious situation.
Poland must prepare for a possible war with Russia, Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz told the daily newspaper Super Express. When asked whether he considered a military defeat for Ukraine and a direct attack on Poland by Russia to be possible, the conservative politician replied: "I expect every scenario and take the worst ones most seriously. That is the job of a defense minister in the situation we find ourselves in today.
Concrete preparations
The 42-year-old emphasized that he "didn't just say these words," but rather carefully considered them. His ministry has already begun concrete preparatory steps. This way you can check what gaps there are in the armament. Large-scale arms purchases are very important, but the individual equipment of each soldier must be taken just as seriously. Poland will play a very important role in the common defense of the European Union, the EU Commission also knows this, said the minister.
The EU itself is planning a new package of sanctions against Russia on the second anniversary of Russia's war of aggression. According to information from the dpa news agency, it provides for a significant expansion of the list of people and institutions whose assets must be frozen in the EU. In addition, other companies that contribute to Russia's military and technological strengthening or to the development of its defense and security sector should also be sanctioned.
mrc/dpa