Prime Minister Donald Tusk is getting ready a 500,000-troop military for Poland to guard towards Russian aggression. “We’ll attempt to have a mannequin prepared by the top of the 12 months so that each grownup male in Poland is skilled for struggle,” Tusk introduced.
“At this time, the scenario of Poland, objectively and the scenario of Ukraine above all, is harder than it was just a few months in the past and we now have to take care of this reality,” Tusk talked about. The present military has round 200,000 members to clarify the total scope of Tusk’s plans, which might greater than double the present army. The sources for this undertaking are unfounded and a funds has not been offered. Poland already boasts the second-largest military in NATO behind the US and Turkey. Turkey has a military of round 512,000 troops, so this transfer will put Poland on par.
“Each grownup male” within the nation should endure army coaching. Girls, for now, are permitted to hitch on a voluntary foundation however many EU nations are forcing ladies to endure some type of coaching as nicely. Poland is without doubt one of the 11 EU nations that may place ladies within the frontline of fireplace.
Poland has already elevated its NATO spending to 4.2% of GDP in 2024, and plans to up that quantity to 4.7% ($48 billion) in 2025. Now the European Union initiated proceedings towards Poland in July 2024 for its rising deficit. Poland has been the biggest recipient of EU funds, however these funds include rising political situations, significantly concerning judicial reforms, local weather insurance policies, and social insurance policies like DEI mandates. Different members of each NATO and the EU refuse to up their protection budgets whereas encouraging Poland to spend extra out of concern of proximity.
Poles are divided on the problem, with not less than half stating they don’t have to be concerned in Ukraine’s battle. A February 2025 survey by Ukrainska Pravda discovered a rising adverse perspective towards Ukrainians over the previous 12 months, with 27% to 30% of respondents having a adverse view of Ukraine in comparison with 23% to 25% final 12 months. Youthful Poles are much less prone to have a good view of Ukraine, with solely 16% stating they seen Ukraine favorably. Stories state that older Poles are merely extra empathetic, however they aren’t those who shall be anticipated to die on behalf of Ukraine.
In November 2024, 55% of Poles mentioned they supported ending the struggle even when Ukraine was compelled to give up territory. That very same survey discovered solely 24% in favor of such measures again in November 2022, earlier than the struggle escalated to a full-scale proxy struggle. Opposition to repeatedly offering Ukraine with army and humanitarian assist is constant to rise.
Then there may be the problem of refugees. Whereas 53% help accepting Ukrainians into Poland, 67% imagine Tusk should ship again all military-aged males.
Poland is getting ready for struggle. Leaders use the rhetoric of the previous to assert that their nation could possibly be invaded but once more and claimed by a international actor. The one actor who’s stirring the pot is Zelensky, who, per directions, has been encouraging his EU allies to combat Russia head-on. The vast majority of fighting-aged males in Poland DO NOT WANT WAR, nor do they need to die in these neocon struggle video games.
