Speaking to residents in the central town of Pabianice on Saturday, Tusk said he had recently received confirmation of this assessment from US and NATO sources during a meeting with Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, NATO’s new Supreme Allied Commander Europe.
“In NATO and in the United States, the consensus is that Russia and China may be ready for a global confrontation in just two years,” Tusk said, adding that Poland, as a frontline country, must prepare for a range of threats.
“Every day—lately, every hour—brings some new surprise, an unexpected event, a statement, or an unannounced visit,” he added.
The prime minister underlined the importance of political stability and civic resilience, pointing to "hybrid attacks" on Poland’s borders and efforts to sow political division.
'No better scenario for Russia than a divided Poland'
He accused some far-right activists and opposition figures of downplaying the threat posed by Russia while promoting anti-Ukrainian and xenophobic rhetoric.
“There is no better scenario for Russia than a divided Poland,” he warned.
Tusk promised to use the next two years to reinforce national stability.
“I make a solemn pledge to you and to all of Poland to use the coming two years to stabilize the situation in the country as much as possible,” he said.
However, he acknowledged growing tensions within the ruling coalition, describing recent days as a time of “disturbingly divergent opinions and actions.”
The prime minister appealed directly to citizens for support and understanding.
“I am not a flawless politician,” he admitted. “Most things I manage to achieve are thanks to you, because you are my only source of strength.”
He urged people not to “drop their arms,” saying he could not succeed without public backing, especially when compromise and difficult decisions were needed.
“Sometimes I have to take a step back, or do things you may not like, so that our October victory doesn’t slip through our fingers,” he said, referring to the general election in 2023 that returned his coalition to power.
Tusk insisted he would never resort to stoking fear or hate to maintain political support.
“I will not build my position or our advantage on fear of migrants or on hatred,” he said. “I’m not good at that. I don’t know how to do it.”
He criticized the rhetoric coming from conservative politicians, saying it often relied on simple xenophobic slogans such as “down with the foreigners” or “down with the Jews and Ukrainians.”
He placed blame for Poland’s earlier migration problems squarely on the former Law and Justice government led by Mateusz Morawiecki, claiming it allowed uncontrolled flows of both legal and illegal migrants.
According to Tusk, 80 percent of illegal border crossings occurred under the previous administration.
He noted that his government had also overhauled Poland’s visa policy, stopping the practice of "selling visas under the table" at some consulates.
“We have largely solved the problem of illegal migration as far as Poland is concerned,” Tusk said. “But we can’t compete in the politics of hatred or xenophobia. The far right will always go further.”
He linked this trend to similar developments in the United States, France and Britain, warning of the global reach of fear-driven politics.
The prime minister said his government would continue to assert control over the country’s institutions and ensure the rule of law is upheld, particularly on the Polish-German border where radical groups have been active.
“If the police cannot enforce the law against paramilitary groups, then democracy is in crisis,” he said. He pledged that this situation would come to an end, and pointed to the recent Cabinet reshuffle as a step in that direction.
“That reconstruction was about tightening the reins and sending a clear message to coalition partners: enough pampering, no more jokes,” Tusk said. "Anyone who raises a hand against the Polish state, insults the uniformed services, or grabs for power that is not theirs will be punished. That was the main reason for the government reshuffle.”
The reshuffle came after Tusk's centrist Civic Coalition failed to secure the presidency—a setback that could complicate the government's pro-European agenda during the remaining two-and-a-half years of its term.
Tusk said earlier this month that his government maintained a stable majority despite internal tensions within the ruling coalition following the presidential election defeat.
(rt/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP