Russian President Vladimir Putin is prepared to invade other countries following his decision to launch the war in Ukraine, Polish President Karol Nawrocki declared on September 9.
“We do not trust Vladimir Putin’s good intentions,” Nawrocki told reporters during a joint press conference with his Finnish counterpart, Alexander Stubb, in Helsinki.
Poland and Finland share borders with Russia and are both NATO members. They have been directly affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“While we are waiting for long-term peace, for permanent peace—which is necessary for our regions—we believe that Putin is also ready to invade other states,” the Polish president said.
“That is why we are developing our armed forces, we are strengthening our partnership and our relations,” he added, without giving details on specific measures.
He also stated that the “security architecture” in the region has changed and that U.S. President Donald Trump is “the only leader of the free world” capable of forcing Putin to negotiate, Rel reported.
Last week, Trump offered to send more troops to Poland while hosting Nawrocki at the White House.
Stubb, for his part, has held regular talks with Trump in recent months, as European powers seek ways to end the war in Ukraine.
“We are trying to explain that Putin cannot be trusted, that Putin is playing with his usual delaying tactics,” Stubb said.
Similar concerns were raised earlier this week by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said that “Putin’s imperialist plan will not end with the invasion of Ukraine,” adding that this plan is only the beginning.
