Today in Strasbourg, at the request of the ECR Group, a debate was held regarding the deliberate violation of its airspace by Russian drones. Speaking on behalf of the ECR Group were PiS MEPs Adam Bielan, Joachim Brudziński, Mariusz Kamiński, Beata Szydło, and Jacek Ozdoba.
Adam Bielan noted that Russian drones over Poland may be the final warning sign. “A sign that the policy toward Putin’s Russia, based on a constant search for common ground with him, has reached its end,” he stated. The MEP argued that Putin understands only the language of force, and that any behavior which, in our—Western—understanding, is a sign of reason and compromise, is for him a sign of weakness and an encouragement for further aggression.
“Unfortunately, when the late Polish President Lech Kaczyński said in Tbilisi in 2008 that Russia’s aggression against Georgia was a prelude to further actions, the West pretended not to understand,” the politician noted. He also recalled that it was Chancellor Merkel and successive German governments, regardless of party affiliation, who promoted the Nord Stream project. He further explained that the economic miracle of many European economies was based not on hard work, but on cheap Russian energy.
“As long as German chancellors find jobs at Gazprom, it’s hard to believe in European solidarity,” he said, questioning the supposed support expressed in the European Parliament. He noted that, unfortunately, the policies of Obama and Biden encouraged Russian aggression, while the policies of Schröder and Merkel provided them with the funds to carry it out. “The only European solidarity we can believe in is solidarity based on the understanding that we don’t just talk about values—we are capable of defending them,” concluded the head of the Polish delegation in the ECR Group.
Joachim Brudziński recalled that on August 12, 2008, on the fifth day of the Russian-Georgian war, the late Prof. Lech Kaczyński, then President of Poland, addressed a rally in Tbilisi to support the fighting Georgians and show them that they were not alone. He quoted the words Kaczyński spoke at the time: “We know very well that today it is Georgia, tomorrow Ukraine, the day after tomorrow the Baltic states, and later perhaps it will be my country’s turn—Poland.” “Lech Kaczyński spoke prophetic words at the time, emphasizing that it is the duty of the international community to stand in solidarity against Russian imperial ambitions,” —commented the PiS MEP on the former Polish president’s words, adding that Putin never forgot them. In this context, he recalled that just two years later, the Smolensk tragedy occurred, in which the President of the Republic of Poland and the 95 most prominent representatives of the Polish nation accompanying him were killed.
“Today, those words come back to us at a time when Russian drones have appeared in Polish airspace,” Brudziński noted. He stated that it is up to the international community, including the European Parliament, to decide whether the West’s response to the criminal in Moscow will be the one Lech Kaczyński spoke of. “Or perhaps we’ll take the path of vague rhetoric and empty talk, such as Ursula von der Leyen’s statements yesterday regarding the Green Deal, Mercosur, or climate madness?” the PiS MEP wondered. He stated that “we won’t stop Putin this way, and it’s only a matter of time before Russian drones appear over Berlin, Paris, and perhaps Strasbourg.”
“There is no shortage of Putin’s useful idiots in this Chamber, and we have witnessed this over the past decades,” said the MEP, pointing to the empty seats on the left side of the plenary hall during the debate.
Mariusz Kamiński emphasized that what happened in Polish airspace on the night from Tuesday to Wednesday was a cynical Russian provocation. “A provocation aimed not only at Poland, but at our entire European and transatlantic community,” he noted.
As he pointed out, Wyryki in the Lublin region, where a Russian drone struck a house, is just as much NATO and EU territory as Strasbourg, Antwerp, or Barcelona.
“Our response to Russia’s actions must be firm and communicated in the only language the Kremlin understands—the language of force,” —the PiS politician stated, emphasizing that any violation of the borders and airspace of EU and NATO member states must be met with a swift, united, and resolute response.
“If the Russians don’t see this, you will soon see Russian combat drones over Sweden, Finland, or Romania. And then Russian tanks on the streets of your cities,” warned the former minister in charge of coordinating the secret services.
The PiS politician outlined the measures that must be implemented to prevent this. He spoke of the need to immediately implement the tough 19th package of sanctions against Russia. In addition, he noted that sanctions against the Belarusian regime must be strengthened, effective air defense must be ensured along the entire eastern flank, and further, tangible support must be provided to the Ukrainian army fighting against Russia. “This is the path to a secure Europe!” he emphasized.
Beata Szydło noted that discussions on how to defeat Putin have been ongoing for many years. “And we’re still in the same place—I’d even say we’re moving backward,” the MEP stated, noting that the Russian president is becoming increasingly brazen and ruthless. According to the former Polish prime minister, the reason is a lack of unity and the belief among some politicians that “it’s possible to reach an understanding with Putin.” “No, it’s not possible to reach an understanding,” — Beata Szydło emphasized, noting that while Russian drones violated Polish airspace yesterday, dozens of planes carrying Russian tourists returning from vacation were flying over Europe. “This is symbolic of how Putin, Russia, and the Russians approach what we’re talking about. And we’re still standing still. We need to finally start taking action. Words aren’t enough. But this will only happen—and we’ll only defeat Putin—if we move forward together, all in the same direction,” she urged.
Jacek Ozdoba stated that hypocrisy reigns in the European Parliament’s plenary hall. To back up his point, he recalled the actions of certain MEPs at the Polish border. “A bunch of hypocrites were running around with pizza and sleeping bags not long ago, disrupting order at the Polish border,” he said. “Where was the European Union when Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 were being built?” he asked. He also wondered where the representatives of the European People’s Party were when Ursula von der Leyen spoke yesterday about accelerating climate goals.
“While Putin is building drones and arming himself, we’re destroying European industry,” the Polish politician commented. He stated that the agreement with the Mercosur countries deprives Europe of food security. He also criticized the Energiewende strategy, which he said will not ensure Europe’s energy security. “Such actions are pure pro-Russian politics,” the MEP commented. He also pointed out that Ursula von der Leyen served as Minister of National Defense in Angela Merkel’s government. “And you’re surprised today that Putin is sending drones?” he asked in this context. “History has long since judged you, and it shows that, unfortunately, you have brought about this crisis, which is spilling over the European Union’s eastern border,” he commented. Jacek Ozdoba argued that the appropriate response to the current situation in the EU would be financial resources for armaments, not “ideological fairy tales.”
