The Polish prime minister has said the government is preparing to make military training available for all adult men in the country and that the initiative should be ready by the end of the year.
Donald Tusk told parliament on Friday that if Russia took control of parts of Ukraine, then Poland would find itself in a “difficult geographical situation.”
He said: “We are preparing large-scale military training for every adult man in Poland. Our goal is to finalize the plan by year’s end to ensure a well-trained reserve force ready for potential threats.
“If Ukraine loses the war, or if it accepts the terms of peace, armistice, or capitulation in such a way that weakens its sovereignty and makes it easier for Putin to gain control over Ukraine, then without a doubt—and we will all agree on this—Poland will find itself in a much more difficult geopolitical situation.”
Speaking later to reporters, Tusk stressed that he was not announcing a resumption of basic military service.
“If I were proposing a return to basic military service, I would say so. We have several models. One of the most appreciated ones is the Swiss model,” he said, adding that in the latter system training is “not compulsory, but there are incentives that cause men to opt for annual training.”
Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said the initiative was open to both women and men.
“Of course, there are more men in the Polish army, and more of them will likely take advantage of this offer, but for anyone who is fit and capable of undergoing such training, it will be possible,” he added.
Nuclear arsenal
In an address dominated by security, Tusk also said that “Poland must pursue the most advanced capabilities, including nuclear and modern unconventional weapons."
Tusk noted that France had proposed extending its nuclear umbrella to its European partners.
But he added: “Today, it’s clear that we would be safer if we had our own nuclear arsenal – there’s no doubt about that.
“However, one way or another, the path to it would be a very long one, and there would need to be a consensus; in other words, it must give us a sense of security, so it’s not about reckless bravado.”
He also told the house that he had asked the Defense Ministry to initiate Poland's withdrawal from conventions which ban the use of anti-personnel mines and cluster munitions, adding that “faced with a threat Poland will resort to any means necessary.”
The prime minister said everyone is aware of the seriousness of the situation, highlighting developments related to the Russia-Ukraine war, transatlantic ties and the situation in Europe.
He said Poland had “many reasons to be very focused on security, on matters of war and peace,” adding that many voices in Europe and the U.S. were "leaning towards the Russian narrative” regarding the war, though he said this remained a “marginal” political position both in Poland and in the West.
“There’s only one European shortcoming—unwillingness to take action, uncertainty and at times even cowardice,” he said. “Now it’s time to act.
"Everyone in the EU, the US and Ukraine understands that Poland’s primary role is to bolster its border with Russia, not sending troops to Ukraine,” Tusk continued.
"There’s no reason why Europe should feel inferior to Russia given the differences in the population and quality of weapons,” Tusk told parliament. "Russia will be helpless against a unified Europe.”
