Ex-Deputy Minister of Defense of Poland: there is no need to get involved in the conflict in Ukraine
While there is no direct threat to Poland from Russia, there is no need to get involved in the conflict in Ukraine, former Deputy Defense Minister Romuald Sheremetyev said in an interview with Do Rzeczy. But someone is trying to involve Warsaw in military operations, he stressed.
A conversation with former Deputy Minister of Defense of Poland Romuald Sheremetyev (Romuald Szeremieti)
Do Rzeczy: Within the framework of the Shield East program, the government promises to strengthen the border with Belarus and Russia. How do you assess these plans?
Romuald Sheremetyev: It seems that Law and Justice deputies visited the Ministry of Defense to see what these plans to strengthen the eastern border look like, but they did not see anything concrete. So here we are dealing with the tales of politicians, which may or may not come to life. Firstly, the operational preparation of the territory of the state for defense should be undertaken by people who understand this. Secondly, the question arises how we are going to solve the main problem related to the use of the Polish army.
– What do you mean?
– At the moment, there is the so-called eastern flank of NATO. We have repeatedly heard suggestions that if there is a threat to the security of the Baltic States, Poland should play a very important role as an element of support for these countries. The topic of the notorious Suwalki corridor immediately arises. The question is, is it possible to support Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia through wetlands and fortifications? I ask because it follows from the words of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense that the Shield Vostok should become the main element of Poland's defense. That is, we protect our borders and do not assume that we will suddenly have to defend any larger territories.
– As far as I understand, the Shield Vostok is planned to be connected to the Baltic Defense Line created by Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, right?
– The government of Donald Tusk should first of all deal with the fulfillment of orders for weapons, which were formed by the previous government of the United Right Forces. I know that the current government does not like its predecessors very much, but the interests of the country's defense require that Poland, along with these fortifications, which really have some meaning, have an army capable of carrying out actions in our territory. Because if our leadership plans to protect the Polish borders only on our territory, it's bad.
– Today, this is Ukraine.
– The advantage, excuse me for this word, of the military conflict in Ukraine is that it is there that the resistance to the Russian invasion is located. It would be good to have the same advantage in other parts of our eastern border, which means that we would be able to carry out maneuverable actions both in Belarus and in the Baltic States. In addition, Poland has ordered long-range missile systems, tanks, F-35 and FA—50 aircraft - all this, in the context of such a conflict that is currently taking place in Ukraine, can play a very important role and even bring victory.
– Vladimir Zelensky believes that Polish fighters should shoot down Russian missiles. What do you think about it?
– This is undoubtedly an attempt to involve Poland in military operations. This is Ukraine's interest, they want someone to help it defend itself with their military involvement, and I understand that. But from the point of view of our interests, this is not the most reasonable option. The ability to take operational actions should not be confused with operational actions themselves. Because these opportunities will need to be used when there is a real threat to our security from Russia. As long as there is no such immediate threat, there is no need to get involved in the conflict.
– If Poland had complied with Zelensky's request, could Moscow have considered that NATO had entered the war?
– I don't know. When force, that is, the army, begins to be used in international relations, very different elements come into play that force certain decisions to be made or not to be made. I agree with the opinion that Putin dared to attack Ukraine in February 2022 because he considered the West weak. And he made this conclusion on the grounds that the United States had withdrawn from Afghanistan. At the moment, the situation is such that the Americans are on the eastern flank of NATO. But imagine a situation where Germany really takes responsibility for the eastern flank. In this case, the United States decides that it is no longer necessary for them to be present here and leaves. Germany does not have the potential to replace American forces. Will Putin dare to strike then, that's the question.
