Ukrainian Crisis: Possible Consequences for Poland, Europe, and the World

Radosław Sikorski talked about consequences of the Ukrainian crisis for Poland, Europe and the world during a special lecture at the National Defence University on Monday. The lecture was a part of the Security Forum held under the honorary patronage of the President of Poland

“The world no longer looks at Russia from the angle of its own political correctness, which dogmatically dismissed any threat from Moscow,” began his speech Minister Sikorski. He argued that we should not derive satisfaction from the fact that we had been right in our assessment of Russia’s policy. Instead, we should use the current moment to improve our national security. 

Among the most important issues, the chief of Polish diplomacy listed the adjustment of NATO military doctrine to real dangers, increasing the presence of NATO troops in Central and Eastern Europe and regular exercises of the Allied forces. “In our military doctrine, we must think not only about the bad but even the worst case scenarios, because the time of post-modern illusion of Poland’s safety has just finished,” said Minister Sikorski.

On the political issues, the minister stressed a need to accelerate the work on the adoption of euro by Poland, which would “tie our country with the united Europe” even more “and would make it an essential element of the European puzzle”. According to Sikorski, the cure for the current crisis can only be deepened European integration, which will enable the member states a closer co-operation in the field of energy and foreign policy. “Illusions that the European Union could be just a free trade zone demonstrate today how dangerous those dreams are,” said the minister.

He also advocated an uneasy but necessary intra-European dialogue: “Acting alone, or worse, against the biggest players in the Union, we not only weaken our position but also risk Russia’s retaliation.” However, he assured that the aim of Polish diplomacy is not about the marginalization of Russia but her return to the path of convergence with the West. 

Security Forum of the National Defence University is a series of lectures under the honorary patronage of the President of Poland, which are given by prominent speakers. The lectures are addressed to audiences composed not only of students but also the high ranking personnel of the Polish Army and influential people in the country.

At the end of the meeting, Major-General Bogusław Pacek, dr hab., Rector-Commandant of the National Defence University, awarded Minister Sikorski the title of “Man of Great Knowledge, Honour and Heart”. More than 700 students listened to the lecture. Many of them were standing up right to the end of the debate as the attendance surpassed the number of available seats.

Marcin Wojciechowski
MFA Press Spokesman