The relationship between NATO and Russia is becoming more strained. A propagandist in Putin’s service is now threatening Poland and warning of an attack on Belarus.
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Russia has been threatening NATO members with military and nuclear strikes if they interfere. Poland, in particular, is one of the countries supporting Ukraine, much to the Kremlin’s displeasure. At the same time, Poland is not unaffected by the border with Ukraine and the attacks by Vladimir Putin’s troops on the neighboring country. However, a Russian propagandist is warning of a reaction.
In a recent broadcast on Russian state television, Andrej Sidorov, a senior professor at Moscow State University (MSU), warned that Poland „could cease to exist“ if it takes action against Russia and Belarus, Russia’s ally. „We should make it clear to our Polish colleagues that we consider Belarus’s security as our own. If they take any action, Poland, with all due respect, could cease to exist,“ Sidorov said, according to a translation by the watchdog group Russian Media Monitor.
The relationship between Poland and Belarus is at a low point, partly due to the support of the Russian invasion in Ukraine. Additionally, the Polish government has been accusing Belarus of deliberately smuggling migrants to the Polish border for years. There are also allegations of harsh treatment of the Polish minority in Belarus.
Prior to this, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko warned on Friday (September 27) about the use of nuclear weapons. Should NATO use force against Russia or its allies, Belarus would not hesitate to act. Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, made this threat during an event with students in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, reported the state news agency Belta. He emphasized that an attack on Belarus would be akin to a „Third World War“ and crossing the Belarusian border by NATO troops would be a „red line.“
Where exactly the „red line“ lies is unclear. In the war in Ukraine, neighboring states have been completely spared. However, during attacks on Ukraine, Russian missiles have repeatedly violated Polish airspace. Poland’s military was put on alert in the summer when a „flying object“ entered Polish territory after Russian airstrikes in the western Ukrainian region of Lviv and was detected by the Polish radar – likely a drone or missile. This was reported by the PAP news agency in August.
According to reports, Polish fighter jets were then sent to the eastern flank of NATO. This is a standard procedure for the Polish military after a suspected Russian missile violated Polish airspace near the village of Oserdów in the Lublin Voivodeship for 39 seconds on March 24, 2024.
The professor and deputy dean for world politics at MSU, Sidorov, has previously expressed support for a second term for Donald Trump in the US, stating that Trump could potentially bring about the collapse of their geopolitical opponent without the need for missiles. He believes that if the largest contributor to NATO collapses, the defense alliance may no longer pose a threat to Russia.
The situation between NATO, Russia, Belarus, and the neighboring countries remains tense, with threats and warnings being exchanged. The potential for conflict and escalation is high, and the international community is closely monitoring the situation to prevent any further deterioration of relations.