Russian President Putin accuses Poland of territorial ambitions
In a televised meeting of the Security Council, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused NATO member Poland of harboring territorial ambitions in the former Soviet Union.
He also delivered a stern warning, stating that any aggression against Belarus, a close ally of Russia and forming a "Union State" with it, would be considered an attack on Russia.
Putin alleged that Polish authorities are gradually considering that Western assistance to Ukraine may not lead to the desired outcomes for the country and that Ukraine's defeat is inevitable. He further claimed that Poland is increasing its intent to exert control over the western regions of Ukraine by deploying their troops there. These measures are purported to be presented as fulfilling allied obligations within the Polish-Lithuanian-Ukrainian security initiative, known as the "Lublin Triangle."
The Russian leader expressed concern over plans to significantly increase the personnel of the combined Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian brigade operating under the "Lublin Triangle" framework, emphasizing the need to closely monitor these actions by Polish authorities.
In response to the presence of Russian Wagner mercenaries in Belarus, Poland's Security Committee made a decision to relocate military units to its eastern border. The move comes after Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin was seen in a video welcoming his fighters to Belarus, where they are focusing on strengthening Wagner's operations in Africa while providing training to the Belarusian army.
The developments have heightened tensions in the region, raising concerns about potential escalations in the complex geopolitical situation involving Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and Poland. (ILKHA)