Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Polish President Karol Nawrocki warned that Europe must prepare for a long-term security challenge from Russia, regardless of how the war in Ukraine develops. In an interview with CNBC, he argued that even a formal peace agreement would not eliminate the threat posed by Moscow, which he believes will continue to test European security through both military and non-military means.
According to President Nawrocki, Poland already experiences these pressures daily, citing cyber and infrastructure attacks, border destabilisation and repeated incidents in the Baltic Sea and Polish airspace. As a frontline state on NATO’s eastern flank, Poland, he said, cannot afford complacency and must invest heavily in defence capabilities, arms procurement and regional solidarity.
„We can see it in the Baltic Sea, pressure on our borders, attacks on the infrastructure and violations of our airspace,” he said. „Poland is an eastern flank NATO country, and we also experience the effects of the war in Ukraine.”
The President underlined that preparation should not be limited to national measures alone. He called for stronger coordination among European allies and a clear recognition that hybrid warfare has become a permanent feature of relations with Russia. In his view, unity within NATO remains essential to deterring further aggression and ensuring stability across the continent.
Nawrocki also addressed Poland’s role in supporting Ukraine, emphasising that Warsaw remains a critical logistical and humanitarian hub. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Poland has hosted around one million Ukrainian citizens and facilitated the vast majority of international assistance flowing into Ukraine through the Jasionka hub.
„Poland has been providing assistance to Ukraine since 2022. We have a million Ukrainians in Poland,” he remarked. „Over 90 percent of the global aid directed towards Ukraine is routed through Jasionka (a key logistics hub in south-eastern Poland – PAP) and regardless of my personal relations with President Zelensky, this hasn’t changed,” the Polish President stated.
You can access the full video here: https://www.cnbc.com/video/2026/01/22/polish-president-i-have-no-concerns-over-trumps-commitment-to-nato.html
Looking ahead, the President argued that Poland will be indispensable to Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction. He highlighted the country’s geographical position at the heart of Europe, its energy infrastructure, including facilities handling liquefied natural gas from the United States and the readiness of Polish companies to engage in rebuilding efforts.
These issues, he said, remain central to his ongoing dialogue with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Turning to broader international tensions, Nawrocki commented on the debate surrounding Greenland, urging restraint and diplomacy. He warned against actions that could unnecessarily raise tensions within the transatlantic alliance, arguing that Europe should focus its political energy on addressing the war in Ukraine and Russia’s destabilising behaviour.
In discussions with European leaders, Nawrocki said he consistently advocates de-escalation and pragmatic dialogue, particularly in responding to the expectations of the United States.
As NATO’s largest financial contributor and a key guarantor of global security, Washington’s role, he argued, should be addressed through cooperation grounded in shared values of freedom, democracy and national sovereignty.
Photo: X/Mikołąj Bujak KPRP
Tomasz Modrzejewski
