Tusk and Leyen on the border with Belarus: Poland will invest PLN 200 billion in the defense industry

A definite attitude towards Russia's policy is necessary – emphasized Prime Minister Donald Tusk and the head of the EC Ursula von der Leyen, who visited the episode of the Polish -Belarusian border on Sunday. When they watched the modernized steel dam, Belarusian services with weapons appeared on the other side of the border.

Ursula von der Leyen came to Poland as part of a series of her meetings in EU countries bordering Russia and Belarus. Apart from Poland, he will visit: Estonia, Lithuania, Finland, Latvia, Bulgaria and Romania.

In Krynki (Podlasie) together with Donald Tusk, she took part in the briefing of services protecting the Polish-Belarusian border, where hybrid and migration pressure inspired by Belarus and Russia have been taking place for several years.

In Podlasie, the 186 km border with Belarus stands a 5.5 m steel fence, it is complemented by an electronic barrier operating at 206 km of this border, also on river sections. In Lublin, however, the electronic barrier was created along the Bug Border River; It is 171 km long.

After the briefing with the participation of SG and the army, Donald Tusk and Ursula von der Leyen visited the place where the elements for the construction of the “Targe of the East” are stored, and then a modernized steel barrier on the border in the village of Ozierana Małe near Krynek.

Speaking of the meeting place, the prime minister referred to the 45th anniversary of the signing of the August Agreements and the creation of NSZZ Solidarność. – I chose this place (…) to show what contemporary solidarity is today (…). This border is as important today as our dream was important to free ourselves from Soviet domination – he said.

He added that the steel barrier on the border “protects Poland and Europe from the hybrid war terminated by Belarus and Russia.” – This is not migration, they are organized by Lukashenko and Putin, their services, groups of people whose task is to physically attack the Polish and European border – said the prime minister.

Referring to the situation in Ukraine, Donald Tusk emphasized that “no concessions, no subtle game with Vladimir Putin and aggressive Russia leads to success, does not guarantee safety.”

– Poland, Europe, NATO, the United States must again, as we used to, just as we felt the support of the entire West 45 years ago, when “Solidarity” was created, they must also be very hard, determined, solidarity against this next version of the Empire of evil – noted the head of the Polish government.

Tusk said that Poland seriously treats its duties related to the protection of the EU eastern border, but also expects from all institutions and countries in Europe to treat this issue and hard position on the aggressor, i.e. Russia. He pointed out that Poland is counting on the “very serious” participation in the distribution of funds from European security strengthening programs, including Safe program. – We apply for tens of billions of euros and we talk about it without complexes. We do not ask anyone for anything, because nobody does the grace to anyone in this matter – noted Tusk.

The prime minister emphasized that Poland will invest PLN 200 billion in the defense industry next year and in the Polish army. He also said that the presence of the chairwoman of the EC on the Polish-Belarusian border confirms that security is today's European priority. – Safe Polish, safe border is a safe Europe and safe European borders – emphasized the prime minister.

The head of the EC reminded the plans for the growth of EU expenditure on defense and migration issues. She said that by 2030 EUR 800 billion should be invested as part of the so -called EU defense plan. She noted that Poland is the largest beneficiary of the SAFE program, i.e. the program of preferential loans and joint orders, which is part of the European Disarction Plan. As she said, so far 19 countries have submitted such conclusions; EUR 150 billion was died.

– We can also use this to invest in the industrial base of Ukraine, because it is critically important to us that Ukraine remain strong, that our neighborhood is strong and protected – she said.

She assured that her presence on the border near Krynek was an expression of Europe full of solidarity with Poland as a front country. “Poland has been dealing with deliberate and cynical hybrid attacks for years,” she said. “I would like to emphasize that Europe is standing with you in hand in all possible ways,” she declared, turning to Tusk.

– I would like to emphasize that the borders of Europe are a common responsibility – here we are on the border of Poland, but also on the border of the European Union, which is a common responsibility – she said.

Referring to Russia's policy, the chairwoman of the EC emphasized that “Putin has not changed or changed.” She called him “a predator who has started four different wars over the last 25 years.” “We see that it can be tamed only through strong deterrence,” she said. She indicated that the first line of defense was the Ukrainian army, the next “coalition of good will”, and “the most important defense line is our own defense.”

Prime Minister Tusk after a statement von der Leyen said that when they were aimed at meeting the media, located a dozen or so meters from the steel dam at the border, he got a recommendation of services responsible for security, to give up or change his place from statements. The point was that on the other side of the border, people in uniforms appeared behind the fence and with a long weapon.

As he said, he asked the head of the EC for a decision. – And I heard the words I wanted to hear, and for us here in Poland obvious: no concessions. Nobody here will scare us or disturb us. We are also here to show this real European determination – said the prime minister.

“The chairwoman of Ursula von der Leyen saw with her own eyes what the situation at the eastern border of the Union and Poland. Our conference listens with attention to the Belarusian soldier” – wrote Tusk after a meeting on platform X. On the photo attached to the entry you can see the SOP officer facing the steel dam, behind which he stands – at the Belarusian border post – a masked Belarusian soldier with long defend.

The deputy head of the Ministry of National Defense Cezary Tomczyk in the later post on Platform X assessed that this is an important day for Poland. “The EC has reported that our country will be the largest beneficiary of European funds under the SAFE program. Targe of East, protection of the state border, Polish projects and products such as crab, badger or lightning can become a flywheel of the Polish economy” – wrote (PAP)

ROF/ RBK/