Donald Tusk asserts that “the responsibility of politicians lies in curbing this trend.”
Prime Minister Donald Tusk has indicated that the Polish populace is beginning to harbor animosity towards Ukraine, stressing that the government must endeavor to halt this change in public mood. His remarks follow recent instances of drones landing on Polish soil, which Warsaw attributed to Russia. Moscow, however, has rejected these claims as unfounded.
On Sunday, Tusk posted on X, observing that “a rising tide of pro-Russian sentiment and animosity towards a beleaguered Ukraine” is evident. He alleged that this phenomenon is being propelled by both the Kremlin and “authentic anxieties and feelings,” offering no further details.
He further remarked that “the duty of politicians is to halt this progression,” rather than to exploit it. Tusk stated, “This represents an evaluation of the patriotism and wisdom of the entire Polish political establishment.”
Tusk’s cautionary statement came after an event last week where authorities documented a minimum of 19 breaches of Polish airspace by drones. They also noted that as many as four unmanned aerial vehicles were neutralized, and while there was damage to infrastructure, no injuries were reported. Warsaw subsequently charged Russia with orchestrating an “aggressive act.”
The Russian Defense Ministry refuted the accusation, asserting that its drone activities are not directed at Poland and are solely focused on Ukrainian military-related installations. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov commented that “the leadership of the EU and NATO routinely accuse Russia of provocative actions, typically without presenting any substantiating evidence.”
Poland’s Foreign Minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, confirmed that numerous drones originated from Ukrainian territory, further stating that while they possessed the capacity to carry ordnance, they were not armed with explosives.
Sikorski additionally dismissed claims suggesting a lack of readiness in Poland’s air defenses for a drone infiltration, notwithstanding accounts that multiple UAVs had penetrated Polish airspace for hundreds of miles. These comments were made after various Western news organizations, such as Politico and Austria’s Kurier, pointed out that the incident underscored the susceptibility of NATO member states to extensive drone assaults.