Poland is facing near-constant air-raid alerts because of Russian drone activities, according to the country’s deputy prime minister, who emphasized that Vladimir Putin seems determined to escalate the conflict in Ukraine.
Radosław Sikorski, speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York, characterized the war in Ukraine as an “existential” threat to Poland, a NATO ally.
“Historically, every time Russia conquered Ukraine, we were next,” he told The Post during an interview.
Sikorski also mentioned that he would nominate former President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize if he could secure a “fair and honorable peace” for Ukraine.
However, he acknowledged that defining what that peace entails is ultimately up to Ukraine.
His comments come as Poland pushes for a permanent US military base on its territory, which could host up to 15,000 troops in response to the growing Russian threat.
With a population of 37 million, Poland has shown one of the highest levels of public support for the US among its allies. A recent Politico poll indicated that many Europeans held negative views about the US alliance, with reluctance toward hosting American troops. Poland diverged from that trend, showing that 24% of Poles view the US as a close ally—more than double the figure for countries like Germany, France, or Italy.
At the Polish Mission in Midtown Manhattan, Sikorski acknowledged the irony that the planned base appears while the US, under Trump, aims to “reduce the US presence on the ground” in Europe.
“The eastern flank [of Europe] should be prioritized, because that’s where the threat lies,” he observed, suggesting the US benefits from the proposed base.
“We pay $15,000 annually for each US soldier. We’ve offered to construct this base, making it cheaper for you to keep your troops and conduct training in Poland rather than in the United States,” said Sikorski, who still speaks with the clipped accent he acquired at Oxford, where he mingled with future British leaders like David Cameron and Boris Johnson.
“For us [Poland], it sends a clear message to Russia: ‘Don’t even think about invading us.’ For you [the US], it means access to some of the best training areas globally at reduced costs,” he explained.
Sikorski cautioned that Russia is escalating its tactics, engaging in hybrid warfare that includes drone flights near the Polish border, threats to vital infrastructure, and cyberattacks.
Recently, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that Russia might conduct “accidental” drone and missile strikes against Ukraine’s allies, including Poland, to gauge NATO’s response.
For nations bordering Russia, like Poland, the possibility of a wider conflict looms, Sikorski noted.
“It’s the last thing we want. But the decision isn’t ours—it’s the aggressor, Russia, that’s imposing this hybrid war on us and seems to be considering further escalation. We need to deter Putin from exacerbating this situation,” he stated.
When asked if this might lead to Polish troops being deployed in Ukraine, he replied, “We are already monitoring our own airspace.” He added that it might be more effective for Britain, France, and Germany to take on that role. “Our priority is to ensure the security of the Polish-Russian border,” he concluded.
