Radosław Sikorski at the Yalta European strategy conference in Kiev on 12 September 2026 stated that NATO would rapidly defeat Russia in the event of its assault, and Europe has an advantage in the air. That's a good scare signal. For Poland, however, it means the work to translate strong words into military, air defence and state's own resilience.
Scaring starts with credibility
Deputy Prime Minister and abroad Minister Radosław Sikorski took the level during the Yale European strategy conference in Kiev. How Reported by Virtual Poland, he estimated that in the case of the Russian NATO state attack they would rapidly defeat the aggressor. At the same time, he pointed to the advantage of European aviation, besides in the script without the participation of the United States.
Sikorski besides proposed major NATO exercises around the royal circuit. Their scale would force Moscow to bind any forces at the Alliance border alternatively of utilizing them in Ukraine. This postulate and consequence from the Kremlin show that Russian authorities realize the language of force much better than calming declarations.
Kremlin wants to manage Polish fear
Representatives of Russian power, including Dmitri Pieskov and Maria Zacharów, responded to the Polish minister's words. Nikolai Patruszew went to the threat that Polish statehood could cease to be in 2 or 3 days if Poland took military action against Russia. This is the Moscow consequence to the reminder of NATO's defence potential: intimidate, overstate its own power and force self-censorship on its opponent.
Poland cannot conduct abroad policy according to the question whether the Kremlin will offend. Russia is conducting a war against Ukraine and openly demands a peculiar right to dominate its neighbours. Surrender won't buy us security. He can only convince Moscow that force works.
At this point, Sikorski is right. A country that shows fear of all Russian threat itself lowers the threshold of further pressure. Peace and hardness are part of the deterrence, as long as the enemy knows that real abilities are behind them.
Strong words must be covered
However, there is simply a line between deterrence and the policy of rhetoric itself. Poland does not request effective fighting for threats. He needs an army capable of a long effort, a stock of ammunition, tight air defense, infrastructure protection and an efficient mobilization system. Without this, even the right words of the minister will stay a message for the conference.
Nor can we build a sense of safety on the presumption that allies will always do all the work for us. NATO is to defend Poland, but the credibility of Article 5 grows erstwhile the front State itself can take the first blow and keep its ability to act. The Alliance is simply a tool of the Polish state's right. She can't be her replacement.
It is besides an answer to a frequent false choice: either to disregard Russia or to paralyze the fear of war. The liable policy rejects both. Sobriety evaluates the opponent, strengthens his own state and communicates defence readiness without empty bravado.
Poland needs hard realism
The government should not usage Russian threat for national image game. Citizens have the right to know the state's state's state's preparations, the cost of strengthening defence and circumstantial transportation times. A strong message by the head of diplomacy is only of value erstwhile accompanied by a sound safety plan.
Poland's right state requires 2 things at once: rejecting Russian blackmail and maintaining full control of its own policy. We cannot be a client of Moscow or a passive subject of decisions of stronger allies. We are to act as an aware of our interests a nation that cooperates with NATO, supports Ukraine's opposition to aggression and builds strength on its own.
Sikorski was right not to let go of the cremation threat. Now the state must prove that there are radars, soldiers, supplies and decisions behind this attitude. For Poles there is no satisfaction with an acute repost. Freedom of life without a Russian dictatorship is at stake.
Source: Virtual Poland
Source: WP News
