Poland’s prime minister warned that the country is preparing for a range of scenarios and that the following months could be truly critical.
Donald Tusk responded to media reports that Moscow was planning an armed “provocation” to test NATO’s resolve, citing U.S. intelligence that the Russian military might launch missiles or drones against Polish infrastructure.
“I don’t mean to scare anyone, but the coming months may truly be critical,” Tusk told reporters on Friday, emphasizing that the threat is especially palpable in the Baltic states.
Polish news outlet Onet reported that officials close to President Karol Nawrocki said Washington had issued several warnings to Warsaw about a plot to attack the country. Neither the White House nor the State Department responded to BBC requests for comment.
According to the Telegraph and other sources, the plan could involve targeting key Ukrainian allies, forcing them to suspend aid, and sending troops into a NATO member state. Tusk acknowledged the threat, adding that “we are aware of the risks thanks to information from our allies.”
The Polish leader said that President Nawrocki would attend a NATO summit in Turkey next week. The conference is expected to reaffirm Europe’s commitment to increasing defence spending and to continue funding weapons for Ukraine.
Tusk has warned that Russia could attack a NATO member “in months.” In late June, his deputy, Radek Sikorski, told CBS News that a Russian “false‑flag” operation might be used to justify an attack on a NATO state within the next two years.
Baltic states have voiced concerns about their vulnerability, with Latvian intelligence alerting Moscow to potential provocations in the region or Poland, and Lithuania’s ambassador to NATO saying Russia is more likely to resort to hybrid tactics than a conventional assault.
Under NATO’s Article 5, an attack on one member is an attack on all, obligating allies to respond in defence of the targeted nation.
