Speaking in the village of Jaryłówka, close to the border with Belarus, Nawrocki said the threat of war remained close, citing pressure on Poland’s borders from Russia and its ally.
"Wars are part of our social reality," the president said.
"We want peace and security, but this will not be possible without the daily commitment of Polish soldiers and officers."
He described Poland’s borders as more than lines on a map, calling them "the threshold of our home”, and linked their defence to the country’s history of having once existed without sovereignty for more than a century.
Addressing Polish personnel serving both at home and abroad, Nawrocki said they acted as ambassadors for the country and helped strengthen alliances, including through missions on the eastern flank of NATO.
As commander-in-chief of the armed forces, the president said his visit was intended to show respect and thank those who had chosen to serve on Christmas Eve "for the shared security and common good".
He also wished soldiers and officers a peaceful Christmas.
Earlier, Poland’s defence minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said that around 20,000 Polish soldiers were on duty across the country on Christmas Eve.
(ał)
Source: PAP