Warsaw – In a stark warning to the alliance, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told the Sejm that Russia is preparing hybrid strikes with drones or rockets aimed at NATO countries that support Ukraine, including Poland. He said Moscow will try to portray any attack as an “accident” to discourage a collective NATO response.
Hybrid threat on the eastern flank
Tusk warned that “there is a real risk that drones or other types of projectiles will enter the territory of one or several countries on the eastern flank and even cause destruction.” He added that Russia’s strategy is to claim any incident is accidental, hoping NATO will hesitate to act.
The prime minister highlighted the growing danger of jet‑powered drones, which fly higher and faster, making them harder for air defenses to detect before reaching their targets. He said intelligence from NATO, Ukrainian and U.S. agencies, including the CIA, confirms the heightened threat.
Border attacks and winter aid concerns
Recent Russian activity has focused on border crossings between Ukraine and its European neighbors. In the past week, four incidents occurred on Poland’s border with Ukraine, with additional attacks reported on the Ukraine‑Moldova frontier. Tusk warned that if these crossings are disrupted, Poland’s ability to deliver energy aid to Ukraine this winter will be severely limited.
He also noted that Russia aims to cripple Ukraine’s economy and logistics, expecting “very high frequency and intensity” attacks on six major Ukrainian cities in the near future.
Poland’s defiant response and U.S. partnership
Demonstrating resolve, Tusk announced he will travel to Kyiv to discuss drone defenses with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and coordinate further sanctions with partners such as Slovakia.
On Thursday, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that “major progress is being made toward establishing a U.S. Army base in Poland,” calling it a historic step for the U.S./Polish alliance. The Trump administration has been considering a permanent base as a strong security guarantee, even as it reorganizes its overall European presence.
Earlier this year, the United States temporarily withdrew about 10,000 troops from Poland, causing concern among allies. Both Polish and U.S. officials later clarified the move was temporary and did not alter the long‑term commitment to Poland’s defense.
Implications for NATO
Tusk’s warning underscores the need for NATO to maintain a credible deterrent and rapid response capability. The potential U.S. base would further solidify the alliance’s eastern flank, sending a clear message that aggression will be met with unified action.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
