“Poland and the eastern flank will not be victims.” The controversial point about US fighter jets disappeared

Poland and NATO's eastern flank will not be victims of a possible peace agreement ending the war in Ukraine, assured on Tuesday the deputy head of the Ministry of National Defense, Paweł Zalewski, who is visiting the USA. He added that there is no such way of thinking on the American side.

Zalewski said that during a conversation in Washington with the deputy head of the Pentagon, Elbridge Colby, he presented his readiness to raise bilateral relations in defense cooperation to an even higher level. – We believe it is possible – he added.

– This concerns the issue of cooperation between defense industries. It is important for Poland and the USA because of threats not only from Russia, but also because of American interests in the Indo-Pacific.. I presented our point of view regarding the creation of a logistics hub for American troops in Poland. There are such possibilities and we are convinced that they are beneficial and consistent with the way Americans think about their needs related to the transfer of forces and units to Europe – he told Polish journalists.

As he said, there was also talk about stationing American troops in Poland.

We have confirmation that there will be no changes here when it comes to reducing these units. However, the question of increasing it is open. I confirmed that we are ready to create appropriate infrastructure for American soldiers, Zalewski emphasized.

During a conversation with the deputy head of the Pentagon, Zalewski expressed satisfaction with the fact that Europeans are increasing defense spending and increasing military capabilities in order to fulfill regional plans. – We believe that the process that (Pentagon Chief Pete) Hegseth was talking about, and that American leaders are talking about, of slowly shifting capabilities to the Indo-Pacific, will be coordinated and gradual, and tailored to the ability of Europeans to take over these tasks, the deputy minister said during the briefing. – This gives us time and opportunities to prepare – he added.

The deputy minister assured that “Poland is treated as an absolutely model ally.” – As those who set an example for others and those who should therefore benefit from a certain privileged position in relations with the US. All this means that the mutual obligations of allies within the Alliance are absolutely ironclad, and there is no doubt about the importance that Americans attach to the operation and effectiveness of the Alliance, he added.

Zalewski also announced that he had presented Polish reservations regarding some of the points that were originally included in the American proposal regarding the peace plan for Ukraine. – Secretary Colby confirmed our point of view and (…) these items have been eliminated from the proposals that are on the table today. There is no point regarding European fighters being stationed in Poland, he emphasized. He pointed out that such issues depend not on the arrangements in which Russia will participate, but on the decisions of Poland and its allies.

He assessed that Colby “perfectly understands the importance of Europe in the peace process in Ukraine and the importance of Poland when it comes to ensuring peace in Ukraine.”

The deputy minister was asked whether he was not afraid that the peace agreement ending the war in Ukraine would include a negotiated provision regarding the reduction of allied forces in Poland.

– I can only refer to the conversation I had with the creator of the United States defense strategy (Colby). (…) In this matter, there is no doubt that Poland and the eastern flank will not be victims of this agreement, and that there is no such way of thinking here on the American side, he emphasized.

When asked about the intentions of the Americans, who included in the peace proposal the point about stationing European fighters in Poland, he said that “since this point was withdrawn, we said it was very good.” – We have not gone into the genesis of this point. I don't know who introduced this point, so I don't want to digress here. What is important to me is that the American side understands that this type of wording should not be included in such a document, he added.

Zalewski said that he also talked to the American side about recent acts of sabotage on the Polish railway. He emphasized that in Poland “the escalation of the hybrid war waged by Russia and NATO is “very clearly visible.”

He added that the violation of Polish airspace by drones launched by Russia and the recent actions on the railway are an expression of the escalation of hybrid war. – This is also related to the escalation of Russian actions on the front and the escalation regarding airstrikes in Ukraine – he added.

– This escalation of the hybrid war is a factor that we take into account, and (…) it is an additional argument for the American side to maintain its military presence in Poland – emphasized the deputy minister.

He noted that the Polish side “cooperates very closely with the American services” and this is “very helpful.”

– Today there is an attempt to reach a truce, then some kind of peace agreement, which, if successful, should end the hybrid war against Europe. We treat (…) these two elements together. And we cannot imagine a situation in which an agreement would be reached in Ukraine and Russia would continue its hybrid war against NATO countries, including Poland. This is unimaginable. And this is also the American position, Zalewski said.

Deputy Minister of National Defense: The agreement between Ukraine and Russia should lead to the end of hybrid activities

The deputy minister emphasized in an interview with PAP that the Americans are determined to achieve a ceasefire and permanent conditions that would contribute to peace in Ukraine. – There is good will on the Ukrainian side, which is also the starting point for these talks. The question remains whether there is good will or lack thereof on the Russian side. We still have a question mark here. Everyone in the Pentagon is aware of the scale of complexity of this process and the fact that it will require a very deep commitment from both parties, he added. He emphasized that this process will also require commitment from Europe and Poland.

Zalewski, who met in Washington with the deputy head of the Pentagon, Elbridge Colby, said that he talked with him about the elements of the draft peace plan for Ukraine that are unacceptable to Poland. – Briefly speaking about those points where people talk about us, but without us. And I received confirmation that the American side sees it in a similar way and that these issues will no longer be the subject of talks. Such as the provision regarding the stationing of European fighters in Poland. This is the decision of Poland and its allies, and certainly not the subject of talks with Russia, emphasized the deputy minister.

He said that it is important for Poland that Ukraine is provided with security guarantees from Western countries and that the US participates in these guarantees. – To create a mechanism that will prevent Russia from attacking Ukraine again. (…) So that the Ukrainian army can develop, building new deterrence capabilities. So that Ukraine is not hampered by any decisions regarding restrictions on its path to, for example, NATO. This is not a matter of conversation with Russia, but of decisions by Ukraine and NATO members. So that it will also have the opportunity to carry out reforms that will lead to membership in the European Union – Zalewski mentioned.

When asked about Russian hybrid actions towards Poland and the rest of Europe, he noted that “Americans, like Poles, are convinced that this is an element of Russian escalation and hybrid war.” – We have no doubt that any agreement that will be negotiated must assume that Russia will stop these actions – he added.

When asked whether he thought the agreement should include a provision on this matter, he replied: – Here I rather rely on the deterrence ability of the allies and the ability to respond in the form of sanctions or actions related to preventing the operation of the shadow fleet. This type of readiness is the best guarantee of safety. No records, no declarations will replace it.

He noted that “otherwise it will be difficult to consider starting even minimal cooperation with Russia.” – Of course, the first condition for this is the fulfillment of all obligations related to a potential treaty or a potential Ukrainian-Russian agreement, and this is any starting point. However, this process of restoring and returning to even a very low level of cooperation must be related to Russia ending its hybrid war against the West, Zalewski said.

When asked about the number of American forces stationed in Poland, he said that he had heard that the Pentagon “treats as a guide the political declaration made by President (Donald) Trump in the presence of President (Karol) Nawrocki, which states that the number of American troops will not be reduced.” He added that the parties could talk about increasing them and presented Poland's readiness to prepare the infrastructure to receive a larger number of American troops.

From Washington Natalia Dziurdzińska (PAP)

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