The tension between Russia and NATO countries has increased again after the statement of the head of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, Sergei Narishkin, who threatened Poland and the Baltic States in case of probable conflict with the Alliance. His statements were made after meeting with the leader of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko and were published by Belta State Agency.
In particular, Narishkin accused Warsaw, Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn of "special aggressiveness" and "rattling weapons", emphasizing that these countries are the first to strike in the event of a direct military confrontation between Russia and the North Atlantic Alliance. He also drew attention to Poland's plans to strengthen the eastern border and potential placement of US nuclear weapons on its territory.
Poland responded promptly to the statement. In response, President Andrzej Duda called Narishkin's words "classical Russian misinformation", typical of Soviet propaganda. He recalled that it is Russia who places nuclear weapons in Belarus - a few hundred kilometers from the Polish border - and thus creates a danger to the security of the European continent.
The President also stressed that NATO is a defensive alliance that does not initiate wars, but only responds to threats and provocations. According to him, it is the aggressive policy of Russia, which has been running a full -scale war against Ukraine since 2022, forced the Russian neighbors to take additional security measures.
Escalation in rhetoric on both sides indicates a deepening of the gap between Russia and the West, including its direct neighbors. Against the background of a continuing war in Ukraine and an increasing presence in NATO in Eastern Europe, such statements are perceived as potentially destabilization and can further complicate diplomatic efforts.
