Polish Foreign Minister Warns Russia Planning Major Operation to Justify Mobilization

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski has warned that Russia is preparing a major operation this year to fabricate a pretext for a new mobilization drive, citing intelligence shared by Warsaw's allies. Speaking to media, Sikorski said the Polish capital had received information pointing to a possible large-scale Russian action, though he declined to specify the exact scenario.

The minister also reported a marked increase in the number and variety of Russian hostile activities directed against NATO member states. These actions, he suggested, fall short of outright warfare but represent a broadening campaign of pressure across the alliance's eastern flank. Despite the heightened threat assessment, Sikorski assessed that a direct Russian ground invasion of Europe remains unlikely, arguing that such a move would trigger an immediate collective defense response under Article 5.

The warning aligns with recent statements from Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who said the coming months will be critical for Ukraine and European security as Moscow prepares a serious escalation. Poland, which borders the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad and Belarus, has positioned itself as a leading voice within NATO for reinforcing deterrence and exposing hybrid operations, including sabotage, cyber intrusions, and disinformation campaigns attributed to Russian services.