Poland's foreign minister says Russia too weakened to confront NATO

18:20

By: Dakir Madiha

Poland's foreign minister says Russia too weakened to confront NATO

Russia’s military is too depleted to confront NATO after sustaining massive losses in its war against Ukraine, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said in an interview, describing Moscow’s current capacity as severely diminished for years to come.

Sikorski told the Czech weekly Respekt that Russia has lost as many as one million soldiers since launching its full-scale invasion in 2022, leaving its forces stretched thin and its ability to sustain another major conflict in question. He added that rebuilding those capabilities could take several years, giving Europe time to reinforce its own defenses.

“Russia has paid an enormous price in Ukraine,” Sikorski said, warning nevertheless that President Vladimir Putin remains capable of dangerous misjudgments despite his weakened position. Western intelligence assessments echo this view, with UK Defence Intelligence estimating Russia’s total losses at more than one million by late 2025 an unprecedented figure in modern European warfare.

Sikorski noted that while Europe faces growing uncertainty over U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump, defense spending across the continent has increased significantly in recent years. He highlighted that it nearly doubled during Trump’s term, reflecting Washington’s push for allies to bear greater responsibility for regional security.

He reaffirmed that the United States “will not abandon Europe” even as it recalibrates global priorities, emphasizing that Europe must assume a larger role in maintaining its own defense. NATO members agreed earlier this year to raise collective military spending targets to five percent of GDP by 2035, up from the alliance’s current two percent benchmark.

Commenting on domestic politics, Sikorski dismissed speculation that Poland might eventually distance itself from the European Union, calling such a move “catastrophic.” He said Warsaw remains committed to serving as both a reliable ally to Washington and an influential player within the EU.

The minister also criticized Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico for maintaining reliance on Russian energy, arguing that both countries could source comparable energy supplies from southern Europe under long-term contracts.

Poland continues to position itself as a critical partner on NATO’s eastern flank, hosting thousands of U.S. troops and advocating for continued military and financial support to Ukraine as the war grinds on.