Polish PM warns of critical months ahead amid Russian threat.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Poland is taking all necessary steps to face a "various" set of scenarios, cautioning that the coming months could be "critical" as Russia prepares an armed provocation aimed at testing NATO’s resolve.
Tusk referenced U.S. intelligence suggesting Moscow might target Polish infrastructure with missiles, drones or even send forces into the country. He added he was not aiming to scare the public but to underscore Poland’s readiness and the need to stay alert to shifting dangers.
According to the Polish news outlet Onet, the U.S. has warned Warsaw of a possible plot to attack or infiltrate the NATO member state. The White House and State Department did not comment on these allegations. The Telegraph in the United Kingdom also reported that Russia’s plans could involve a "false flag" operation to justify an attack on NATO.
The broad aim, as Tusk put it, would be to pressure Kyiv’s Western allies to cut aid to Ukraine, which is enduring Russia’s full‑scale invasion since 2022. The prime minister affirmed that while the threat is real, Poland remains well‑informed through allied intelligence.
President Karol Nawrocki is due to attend a NATO summit in Turkey next week, where leaders will discuss the defence of the alliance and pledge ongoing support for Ukraine’s weapons programme. Polish Deputy Prime Minister Radek Sikorski has earlier warned that a Russian “false flag” could occur in the next two years.
Baltic states such as Latvia and Lithuania have also expressed concern over potential Russian provocations. Latvia’s intelligence services recently flagged Moscow’s plans to test the region, while Lithuania’s ambassador to NATO highlighted the likelihood of hybrid warfare rather than a conventional attack.
NATO’s Article 5 remains in force: an armed attack against one member counts as an attack against all. Tusk and other leaders stress that the alliance remains vigilant and prepared to meet any threat in the region.
