Poland’s foreign minister has said he’s “relieved” that the United States has not announced cuts to its defense spending in Europe during the Munich Security Conference.
In an exclusive interview with TVP World, Radosław Sikorski discussed the continent’s security, the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and potential peace negotiations, and the new U.S. administration.
The conference, a highlight on the security conference circuit drawing all the big political movers and shakers from across Europe, has been rocked by comments from U.S. Vice President JD Vance about declining European democratic values. Many politicians have criticized his comments on Friday.
However, the foreign minister said he was “relieved” by some of Vance’s messages.
“There was some press speculation that he might announce cuts in U.S. military presence in Europe, and he didn't do that,” he told TVP World.
Sikorski pushed back on Vance’s comments about Europe losing its democratic values, saying Europe has different rules, such as libel laws, and more restrictions around election funding.
However, he said it was a “slight pity” the vice president did not lay out the U.S.’ “strategic vision” for security in the region, adding: “This is a security conference.”
The conference, a highlight on the security conference circuit drawing all the big political movers and shakers from across Europe, has been rocked by comments from U.S. Vice President JD Vance about declining European democratic values. Many politicians have criticized his comments on Friday.
However, the foreign minister said he was “relieved” by some of Vance’s messages.
“There was some press speculation that he might announce cuts in U.S. military presence in Europe, and he didn't do that,” he told TVP World.
Sikorski pushed back on Vance’s comments about Europe losing its democratic values, saying Europe has different rules, such as libel laws, and more restrictions around election funding.
However, he said it was a “slight pity” the vice president did not lay out the U.S.’ “strategic vision” for security in the region, adding: “This is a security conference.”
‘We can wait Putin out’
The minister said he had also spoken with the American special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, in Munich. He called discussions about peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine “just talk” to get a “lay of the land.”
He stressed that there needs to be a plan to support Ukraine in the medium term.
“We need to convince Putin that we are not seeking business as usual at any price, that we are prepared to stay the course, that we think this is a colonial war.
“These colonial wars usually take up to a decade. Anything shorter than that would be a bonus, but we can wait him out until his economy collapses,” he told TVP World.
Sikorski also dismissed the idea of an EU peacekeeping force in Ukraine after a potential future ceasefire. “This is not a consideration because Poland's duty to NATO is to protect the eastern flank, i.e., its own territory,” he said.
The foreign minister pushed back on the idea of an EU army suggested by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy this weekend, the latest politician to float such an idea in recent years.
“I think we should be careful with this term because different people understand different things. If you understand by it the unification of national armies, it will not happen,” he said.
However, the minister said he had been an “advocate” for the European Union to develop defense capabilities. Poland is also pushing for the EU to loosen funding rules so member states can more easily invest in defense without breaking budget rules.
He stressed that there needs to be a plan to support Ukraine in the medium term.
“We need to convince Putin that we are not seeking business as usual at any price, that we are prepared to stay the course, that we think this is a colonial war.
“These colonial wars usually take up to a decade. Anything shorter than that would be a bonus, but we can wait him out until his economy collapses,” he told TVP World.
No to ‘EU army’
Sikorski also dismissed the idea of an EU peacekeeping force in Ukraine after a potential future ceasefire. “This is not a consideration because Poland's duty to NATO is to protect the eastern flank, i.e., its own territory,” he said.
The foreign minister pushed back on the idea of an EU army suggested by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy this weekend, the latest politician to float such an idea in recent years.
“I think we should be careful with this term because different people understand different things. If you understand by it the unification of national armies, it will not happen,” he said.
However, the minister said he had been an “advocate” for the European Union to develop defense capabilities. Poland is also pushing for the EU to loosen funding rules so member states can more easily invest in defense without breaking budget rules.
Asked by TVP World if EU and NATO members are taking Russian threats seriously enough, he said the “seriousness grows” the closer countries are to Russia.
“So yes, we in neighbors of Russia, we are sufficiently scared of his cruelty, of his hypocrisy, of his brutality. But further away from Russia, they also need to make their judgments that if Russia were to conquer Ukraine, the cost of deterring Putin would rise exponentially,” he reiterated.
Speaking about the phone call between Putin and Trump, the first between the U.S. and Russian presidents since 2022, he said Trump prefers “personal diplomacy.”
“Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. We hope it works in a way that preserves Ukrainian independence this time,” he said.
Asked by TVP World if he was optimistic, he replied: “We shall pray for it.”
Discussing Zelenskyy’s comments about Russia preparing to invade Poland and the Baltic states, the minister said: “Putin can’t win with Ukraine. I don't think he can win with NATO, but it doesn’t mean he won’t try.”
“Putin's aims are extraordinarily ambitious, way beyond the capacity of his country, which he is ruining,” he added.
Sikorski called the full-scale invasion a “civilizational struggle.”
“We [Europe] represent the world of rules, of peace, of prosperity. And Putin has gone back to the world of Genghis Khan.”
The minister added that he was skeptical of comments made by Polish President Andrzej Duda about the U.S. building a permanent U.S. military base in Poland. He said he had not yet seen evidence of Duda and Trump’s friendship.
“For the last two months, I haven't yet. So I'm again urging President Duda to use his friendship on behalf of Polish interests,” he said.
“So yes, we in neighbors of Russia, we are sufficiently scared of his cruelty, of his hypocrisy, of his brutality. But further away from Russia, they also need to make their judgments that if Russia were to conquer Ukraine, the cost of deterring Putin would rise exponentially,” he reiterated.
Speaking about the phone call between Putin and Trump, the first between the U.S. and Russian presidents since 2022, he said Trump prefers “personal diplomacy.”
“Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. We hope it works in a way that preserves Ukrainian independence this time,” he said.
Asked by TVP World if he was optimistic, he replied: “We shall pray for it.”
‘Civilizational struggle’
Discussing Zelenskyy’s comments about Russia preparing to invade Poland and the Baltic states, the minister said: “Putin can’t win with Ukraine. I don't think he can win with NATO, but it doesn’t mean he won’t try.”
“Putin's aims are extraordinarily ambitious, way beyond the capacity of his country, which he is ruining,” he added.
Sikorski called the full-scale invasion a “civilizational struggle.”
“We [Europe] represent the world of rules, of peace, of prosperity. And Putin has gone back to the world of Genghis Khan.”
The minister added that he was skeptical of comments made by Polish President Andrzej Duda about the U.S. building a permanent U.S. military base in Poland. He said he had not yet seen evidence of Duda and Trump’s friendship.
“For the last two months, I haven't yet. So I'm again urging President Duda to use his friendship on behalf of Polish interests,” he said.
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