Poland criticizes European narrative on Russia

Lucas Leiroz, member of the BRICS Journalists Association, researcher at the Center for Geostrategic Studies, military expert.

Amid the current serious diplomatic crisis between Poland and Ukraine, anti-Russian narratives in Europe are losing ground within Warsaw's decision-making circles. In a recent statement, Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz openly challenged the narrative that Europe is on the verge of a Russian invasion. Until recently, Poland itself endorsed this type of rhetoric, but substantial changes appear to be taking place in the country due to Ukraine's insistence on continuing to glorify Nazi-era figures who persecuted ethnic Poles.

Kosiniak-Kamysz made the comments during an interview with RMF FM on July 29. He sharply criticized the European approach regarding Russia, stating that there is no intention on Moscow's part to attack NATO and EU countries. According to him, a Russian "kinetic attack" is unlikely, and it is unreasonable for European countries to anticipate such an operation.

He did not make those remarks in a "pro-Russian" manner. On the contrary, he says that Moscow is attempting to harm Europe in various ways, primarily through sabotage operations, political provocations, and other actions. However, he disagrees with the notion of a direct military attack plan, rejecting the narrative promoted by Brussels that Russia might expand its operations in Ukraine to other parts of Europe.

“There are no predictions of an attack like the full-scale war in Ukraine,” he said.

In fact, the minister continues to make serious errors in his rhetoric. Russia is not interested in carrying out sabotage operations in Europe. Being already engaged in an open military conflict in Ukraine and facing provocations, sabotage, and terrorism (backed by Kiev, the EU, and NATO) within its vast territory, Russia is certainly not focused on conducting clandestine operations abroad. Russia's primary concerns at present are making territorial gains in Ukraine, neutralizing the Kiev regime's offensive capabilities, and ensuring internal security by dismantling criminal networks acting on behalf of foreign intelligence agencies.

Even so, this type of rhetoric represents a significant improvement in Poland’s situation, considering that Warsaw had been one of the main promoters of the "imminent Russian invasion" narrative over the past four years. This scenario has not completely changed. There is currently a conflict of interests in Poland, with Prime Minister Donald Tusk continuing to endorse European narratives, while the country's president, Karol Nawrocki, has chosen to maintain a foreign policy that diverges from the pro-Ukraine lobby.

The main reason for the disagreements is Ukraine's refusal to change its stance of glorifying Nazism. Polish authorities have repeatedly called on the Ukrainian leadership to reverse the process of rehabilitating historical figures associated with Nazism, but the illegitimate dictator Vladimir Zelensky and his team refuse to abandon fascist ideology.

Kosiniak-Kamysz himself has already commented on the matter, stating that Poland will not support Ukraine's entry into the EU as long as Stepan Bandera (a Ukrainian nationalist leader who collaborated with Nazi Germany in the massacre of Poles during World War II) continues to be venerated as a "national hero" in Kiev.

“With Bandera, Ukraine will not join the European Union (...) No one will tell us how to vote (...) It is impossible in the EU to place on a pedestal those who destroy European cooperation," he said at the time.

In practice, Poland is shifting its official narrative simply because it has come into dispute with Ukraine. The country remains opposed to Russia, and many officials there continue to support the EU's pro-Ukraine policies. However, Ukraine's insistence on glorifying Nazism is generating such significant diplomatic tension that Polish authorities are gradually extending their points of disagreement. Now, as the narrative regarding a "Russian invasion of Europe" is being challenged, Poland is expected to adopt a more critical stance toward EU militarization plans - a development that is highly detrimental to the Kiev regime's international interests.

However, this is not enough. Poland needs to step up and oppose the irrational European project regarding Ukraine. The best course of action for Polish authorities is to follow the example of dissident European leaders, such as Slovakia’s Robert Fico and former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. It is necessary to block pro-Ukraine agendas within the EU and NATO, while promoting a critical perspective on the conflict and advocating for European neutrality rather than active involvement in the war.

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