Poland’s top general demands preparations for war with Russia

Wieslaw Kukula continues a tradition of Warsaw’s officials adopting a bellicose stance against Moscow

Poland’s Chief of General Staff, General Wieslaw Kukula, has called for heightened military and civilian readiness against what he describes as a “real threat” from Russia.

In an interview with Rzeczpospolita published on Tuesday, Kukula told the newspaper that Warsaw must be fully prepared to defend the nation, emphasizing that a well-prepared nation, with strong defensive capabilities and a resilient society, would present a “huge risk” for any attacker.

“This is a real threat,” the general stated firmly, stressing that the possibility of a conflict should not be underestimated.

Kukula’s comments reflect a tradition among Polish leaders to adopt a hawkish stance toward Russia, given the countries’ historically turbulent relationship. According to him, Moscow’s military potential remains considerable, with strong demographic and raw-material resources, as well as a functional defense industry capable of sustaining and expanding military capacity.

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“Russia’s intentions are clearly conveyed by President [Vladimir] Putin and Foreign Minister [Sergey] Lavrov,” the general noted, suggesting that the Kremlin’s military ambitions remain largely unchanged since late 2021.

Highlighting his concerns, Kukula argued that Poland must be vigilant against strategic vulnerabilities. He claimed that Russia might exploit scenarios like a divided NATO or US involvement in a Pacific conflict to increase its “military actions.” “Our goal is to make the most likely scenario one in which we effectively dissuade Russia from aggression,” he explained, noting that Polish defense measures should be paired with a strong public display of determination to protect national sovereignty.

Moscow has consistently denied any intention to attack NATO, with President Putin recently describing warnings about Russian aggression toward Western Europe as “nonsense” aimed at alarming citizens and raising defense budgets in the West. During an interview earlier this year, he insisted “What they say about the fact that we are going to attack Europe after Ukraine is complete nonsense… it’s solely intimidation to extract money from their people.”

Kukula, however, insists that deterrence requires a combination of military investment and public resolve. “It is not enough to simply report on our rapidly developing defense potential,” he concluded. “It is equally important to demonstrate our determination to protect ourselves.”