Russia responds with threats to Poland's wish to increase NATO contingent

European Pravda — Saturday, 11 June 2022

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that Russia will have to "neutralise potential threats" to its security in the event of an increase of NATO troops in Poland.

This was stated by Oleg Tyapkin, director of the Third European Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in an interview with Russia's Interfax news agency, European Pravda reports.

He noted that, even before 2014, Polish governments were increasingly pushing for a strengthening of  NATO's eastern flank and the deployment of NATO troops on their territory.

"Of course, we can’t and will not be indifferent to the growth of the NATO group in Poland. The response, as always, will be proportional and appropriate, aimed at neutralising potential threats to the security of the Russian Federation," Tyapkin said.

He added that relations between Russia and Poland are currently the most tense in their history, but Russia "will not initiate" a potential breakup of diplomatic relations or reduce their level.

On the eve of the Bucharest Nine summit [The B9 format includes Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia], Polish President Andrzej Duda said that NATO's eastern flank countries wanted to increase allied forces on their territory.

He expressed hope for an increase of the number of US troops in this part of Europe.