The council convened at 9 a.m., following a decision by President Andrzej Duda, state news agency PAP reported.
Before the gathering, Duda said: "We are meeting to discuss the strategic challenges to Poland's security ... and the importance of our Euro-Atlantic and Allied ties in light of the developments beyond our the eastern border, facing revived Russian imperialism and all the threats it poses today."
He added that the main security challenge for Poland "is the need to counter the effects of Russian aggression in Ukraine."
Duda also said that, since it joined NATO a quarter-century ago, Poland has been "an integral part of the free world, a family of democratic states, particularly those affiliated with the North Atlantic Alliance," public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.
"Just as 25 years ago, today the Polish political class demonstrates unity in the face of key security challenges," Duda told the media.
Poland to draw up new national security strategy
The president announced that Poland's authorities would soon develop a new national security strategy tailored to the fresh challenges arising from Russia's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine.
Duda said last week that he was convening the National Security Council "to show the unity of the Polish political scene in security matters" ahead of his visit to the United States.
The National Security Council advises the president and includes senior officials such as the Speakers of both houses of parliament, the prime minister, the defence, interior and foreign ministers, and prominent politicians from both the government and opposition.
The head of the president’s National Security Bureau (BBN) is also a member of the National Security Council (RBN).
Monday’s meeting, which was being held behind closed doors, was set to focus on national security challenges resulting from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, according to an announcement by the Polish president's National Security Bureau (BBN).
Other topics included Poland's relations with its NATO allies and transatlantic cooperation, the National Security Bureau said.
After the National Security Council meeting, Duda and Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk were expected to fly to the United States in two separate planes for talks at the White House with US President Joe Biden.
During their talks in Washington on Tuesday, Biden, Duda and Tusk "will reaffirm their unwavering support for Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s brutal war of conquest," according to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
"The meeting also coincides with the 25th anniversary of Poland’s accession to NATO and underscores the United States’ and Poland’s shared ironclad commitment to the NATO Alliance, which makes us all safer," Jean-Pierre said in a statement last month.
"The three will coordinate ahead of the upcoming NATO Summit in Washington," the statement added.
Polish president to propose NATO spends 3% of GDP on defence
The Polish president on Monday said he would "talk to allies to raise the recommended level of defence spending by NATO countries to 3 percent of GDP," from 2 percent today.
"NATO must be prepared to counter threats," Duda stated.
Polish Deputy Defence Minister Cezary Tomczyk has said that the upcoming joint visit by the Polish president and prime minister to Washington shows that all major political forces in Poland "share the same opinion about Russia and Ukraine."
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, starting the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II.
Monday is day 747 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
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Source: IAR, PAP