WARSAW, Poland — Polish President Karol Nawrocki said former U.S. President Donald Trump is the only global figure capable of stopping Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging European governments to strengthen cooperation with Washington as the war in Ukraine enters another year.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Today program, Nawrocki said Russia remains a direct threat to Poland and the rest of Europe. He argued that Trump’s approach to Moscow gives him a unique ability to pressure the Kremlin and push for an end to the conflict. “Russia is still a threat for Europe,” Nawrocki said. “And Donald Trump, nowadays, is the only leader who can solve this problem and we have to support him in this process.”
Nawrocki pointed to a major incident last year in which more than 20 drones crossed into Polish airspace from Belarus and Ukraine, calling it “extraordinary” and a reminder of the risks facing NATO’s eastern flank. The drone incursions prompted NATO to launch Operation Eastern Sentry, a mission aimed at reinforcing air defenses and improving surveillance across the region. “We in Poland don’t know a different Russia than an aggressive Russia,” he said.
The Polish president urged European leaders to align more closely with U.S. strategy, saying internal divisions within the European Union have slowed decision‑making on Ukraine and weakened deterrence efforts. He said Europe must “do everything it can” to help Washington push for a resolution to the war and strengthen NATO’s posture along its eastern border.
Nawrocki’s comments echo concerns voiced by several leaders in Central and Eastern Europe. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas has repeatedly warned that Putin must be met with “strength, not concessions,” while Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs has described the United States as “the indispensable security guarantor” for Europe. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also urged Washington to maintain pressure on the Kremlin, calling U.S. leadership “critical for stopping Putin’s war machine.” Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said Putin would not have invaded Ukraine if Western deterrence had been “stronger and more decisive,” and Lithuanian officials have long argued that Russia only responds to “force and clarity.”
Poland has been one of Europe’s strongest advocates for increased defense spending and tougher measures against Moscow. The country now spends nearly 5% of its GDP on defense, one of the highest levels in NATO, and has repeatedly warned that Russian aggression could expand beyond Ukraine. Nawrocki’s remarks come ahead of meetings with British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and other European officials, where Ukraine and regional security are expected to dominate discussions.
The comments underscore Poland’s belief that U.S. leadership remains essential to European security. Nawrocki said Putin “cannot be trusted” and that only decisive action from Washington can force Russia to change course. His remarks add pressure to European governments as they debate long‑term military and financial support for Ukraine.
