Polish FM Radosław Sikorski warns of Russian provocation games ahead of NATO summit

In an interview with CNN on the eve of the NATO summit in Ankara, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said Russia lacks the forces to launch a frontal attack on NATO but could resort to "false‑flag" operations, possibly using Ukrainian drones, to create a pretext for aggression. He expressed hope that Western warnings would deter President Putin, stating, "I hope Putin will not press the button".

Sikorski reaffirmed Poland’s trust in U.S. security guarantees and urged the United States to establish a second permanent base in Poland, noting that reductions of U.S. troops in Europe are "clearly forthcoming". He highlighted NATO’s increased strength after Finland and Sweden joined and called for continued European conventional defence capabilities despite shifting U.S. deployments.