Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski issued a strong rejection of Vladimir Putin’s recent statements about Russia’s readiness to fight Europe. Sikorski not only dismissed the Russian threats but also confirmed that the cooperation platform known as the NATO-Russia Council (NRC) no longer exists.
Sikorski Declares End of NATO-Russia Council Security Era
Speaking after a meeting of NATO ministers in Brussels, Sikorski emphasized that the era when the Alliance sought to build European security together with Moscow is definitively over. “The NATO-Russia Council no longer exists. This cooperation platform was created at a time when it seemed that European security could be achieved with Russia. Those days, when Russia was making decisions about invasion, are over. Today, we are building European security against Russia,” he stated.
$500 Million for Patriot Missiles and a Response to Saboteurs
In his statement, Sikorski highlighted the tangible steps NATO is taking to counter Russian aggression. He announced that Poland, along with Germany and Norway, has committed support to Ukraine through the PURL program (a scheme addressing Kyiv’s priority needs). $500 million ($100 million of which comes from Poland) will be directed toward purchasing Patriot missiles to defend Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure.
Sikorski linked this contribution directly to acts of sabotage which, he asserted, Russia is carrying out on Polish territory: “A million dollars for every inch of Polish rail blown up by Russian saboteurs,” the minister declared.
The Minister clarified, however, that the Polish contribution is not an additional expenditure. This money was originally earmarked for the European Defence Budget, in accordance with EU commitments. Since the budget is currently blocked by Hungary, Poland decided to re-route the funds “to American weapons for Ukraine.”
BONUS FROM NEWSROOM IN
NEWSROOM IN notes that NATO officially designated Russia “the most significant and direct threat to allies’ security, and to peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic region” at the Madrid Summit in June 2022. It was at this point that Russia’s status changed from