Polish President shows off military hardware, says Russia ‘floundering’ in Ukraine
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Polish President Karol Nawrocki (left) and the Polish army's Chief of General Staff Wieslaw Kukula taking part in the Warsaw parade on Aug 15.
EPA
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- Poland marked the 105th anniversary of defeating the Red Army, highlighting Russia's historical defeats, including its current struggles in Ukraine.
- President Nawrocki emphasised that Russia isn't invincible, citing past losses and the current Ukrainian conflict, supported by allies like Poland.
- Poland, a NATO member, is increasing military spending to 5% of GDP by 2026 due to the perceived threat from Russia, showcasing military strength.
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WARSAW – Russian forces have floundered in Ukraine and history shows Russia’s army can be beaten in combat, Polish President Karol Nawrocki told a military parade on Aug 15 marking the 105th anniversary of a victory over the Red Army by Polish defenders.
Mr Nawrocki, an ally of US President Donald Trump’s Make America Great Again movement, spoke as the eyes of the world were focused on Alaska, where the US leader will meet Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin for talks on the war
The parade marked the 105th anniversary of the Battle of Warsaw, during which Poland defeated the invading Red Army and prevented Soviet forces pushing towards western Europe.
“Russia is not invincible,” Mr Nawrocki said in a speech before the parade.
“It lost to Japan at the beginning of the 20th century, it was defeated by the Poles in 1920, and today, for over three years... it has been floundering after its attack on Ukraine thanks to the support of allies and the solidarity of free nations, including, and at times especially, Poland.”
Already tense relations between Warsaw and Moscow have hit new lows since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Nato member Poland says its own role as a hub for aid for Kyiv has made it a target of Russian sabotage, cyber attacks and disinformation.
Mr Nawrocki joined a Ukraine teleconference with European leaders and Mr Trump on Aug 13 that discussed the US leader’s forthcoming summit with Mr Putin.
Warsaw, Nato’s leading spender on defence as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP), has ramped up its military spending since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
It plans to spend 5 per cent of GDP on defence in 2026 to repel what it says is a renewed threat from the east.
Around 50 military aircraft, including F-16 fighter jets, flew overhead as 4,000 Polish soldiers accompanied by around 200 troops from Nato allies marched alongside the Vistula river beside Leopard, K2 and Abrams tanks, Borsuk and Rosomak armoured vehicles and Patriot and Himars artillery systems.
A naval parade featuring around 20 vessels also took place in the Baltic Sea. REUTERS
