Category: Poland

JRL NEWSWATCH: “Nord Stream Probe Hampered by Resistance From Poland” – WSJ

Europe, EU, Headlines, JRL NewsBlog, Military, Poland, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War
Gas Flame file photo

“Investigators hope Warsaw’s new government will shed light on gas-pipeline attack after previous administration’s reluctance to disclose potentially crucial evidence.” “Polish officials have resisted cooperating with an international probe into the sabotage of the Nord Stream natural-gas pipelines and failed to disclose potentially crucial evidence, according to European investigators …. [They reportedly] have been slow to provide information and withheld […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Polish experts confirm missile that hit grain facility was Ukrainian – media” – Reuters

Headlines, JRL NewsBlog, Military, NATO, Poland, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War
Map of Poland, Kaliningrad, Environs, adapted from CRS image at congress.gov

“Polish experts [reportedly] have confirmed that the missile that killed two people at a grain facility in [the village of Przewodow in] southern Poland in November was fired by Ukraine …. The explosion … fueled fears that the war in Ukraine could spiral into a wider conflict … triggering [NATO’s] mutual defense clause, but at the time Warsaw and NATO […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Luttwak: Poland Is Not the Model NATO Ally” – WSJ/ Edward N. Luttwak

Headlines, JRL NewsBlog, Military, NATO, Poland
Map of Poland, Kaliningrad, Environs, adapted from CRS image at congress.gov

“It wastes money on fancy helicopters and target-only frigates while not doing what responsible countries near Russia must do.” “… [S]tation[ing] U.S. troops in Poland … would legitimate and perpetuate the irresponsible Polish policy that wastes money on fancy helicopters and target-only frigates in the Baltic Sea, while not doing what responsible countries near Russia must do. That is, to […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Western Tanks Heading to Ukraine Raise Stakes for Russia’s Next Move” – WSJ

Arms Trade, Military Aid, Europe, EU, Germany, Headlines, JRL NewsBlog, Military, Poland, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
File Photo of Leopard Tank Preparing to Ford a River, adapted from Defense.gov image with photo credit to Army Sgt. Garrett Ty Whitfield

“Moscow could increase defenses or attacks but is already struggling to gain ground.” “Months before modern Western tanks reach Ukraine, their anticipated delivery has the power to shift battlefield dynamics by forcing Russia to act faster than it had planned — or is ready — to do. The U.S., Germany, Poland and other [Ukrainian] allies … said they would send […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Cracking open ‘The Nutcracker’s’ dark Russian past; Behind the holiday classic lies an unsavory history that may change the way you think about it” – Washington Post

Headlines, History, Soviet Union, JRL NewsBlog, Life in Russia, Culture, Arts, Poland, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War
File Photo of Ballerina and Male Ballet Dancer in The Nutcracker. adapted from image at defense.gov, with credit U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Chris Harper

“… The fruits of a violent imperial system lie behind the work’s bright, bouncy ‘Chinese’ dance … and its slow, seductive ‘Arabian’ scene…. At ‘The Nutcracker’s’ premiere … [in] 1892, in St. Petersburg, the ballet paid homage to the czar and his empire …. If you look at some of the forces giving rise to it, and that still live […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Deaths in Poland Are a Warning for Everyone” – Foreign Policy

Headlines, Human Rights, JRL NewsBlog, Military, Poland, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War
Map of Poland and Environs

“Errant missiles from Ukraine are a reminder that wars can always escalate accidentally.” “If you think the risks of escalation in the Ukraine war are trivial, the tragic deaths of two Polish citizens from an errant Ukrainian air defense missile on Tuesday should give you some pause. … [E]ven if the adversaries are trying to be careful, big wars are […]

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Clues From Views: Russia’s National Security Chief Says Poland Preparing to Seize Land in Ukraine, Points Finger at ‘Selfish’ West

Coronavirus, Covid-19 Pandemic, Europe, EU, Headlines, Military, NATO, Poland, Russia & the West, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
European Portion of Commonwealth of Independent States

(Russia Matters – russiamatters.org – RM Staff – June 2, 2022) This post is part of a new “Clues from Russian Views” series in our blog and analysis sections. In it, we share what newsmakers in/from Russia are saying about Russia-related issues that impact key U.S. national interests so that RM readers can glean clues about their thinking and/or messaging.The […]

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Lithuania and Poland Want to ‘Recover’ Kaliningrad, Russian Analysts Say

Baltics, Europe, EU, Lithuania, Poland
Map of Poland, Kaliningrad, Environs, adapted from CRS image at congress.gov

(Jamestown Foundation – jamestown.org – Eurasia Daily Monitor – Volume 18, Issue 166 – Paul Goble – Nov. 2, 2021) Since Soviet times, Russian analysts have mused about the possibility that Germany might try to recover Kaliningrad, or East Prussia as it was known before Joseph Stalin seized it at the end of World War II. Later, during the 1990s, […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Russia Shows Its Growing Sway Over Global Energy Markets” – Wall Street Journal

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Europe, EU, JRL NewsBlog, Poland, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War
Gas Flame file photo

Moscow’s huge oil and gas reserves have given it more influence over Western and Chinese economies grappling with rising prices […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “U.S. should revive Lend-Lease to contain Russia” – Atlantic Council/ Stephen Blank

Europe, EU, JRL NewsBlog, Military, Poland, Romania, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Map of Ukraine, Including Crimea, and Neighbors, Including Russia

“… Moscow’s hybrid war against the Western world continues unabated. … There are many advantages to a modern-day revival of the Lend-Lease concept. Firstly, it materially strengthens Ukraine by demonstrating growing U.S. support …. Secondly, this plan would help increase allied security and capabilities in threatened areas such as Romania in the Black Sea region and Poland in the north. […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Memory wipe: Vladimir Putin wants to rehabilitate Stalin’s pact with Hitler; Russia’s latest disinformation campaign is aimed at Poland and the EU” – The Economist

Europe, EU, History, Soviet Union, Human Rights, Military, Poland, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler Riding in Convertible

“… Antipathy between Poland and Russia is ancient. But … Putin has fanned the flames by launching one of the biggest propaganda offensives of his 20-year hold on power …. This time he tried to upend the entire history of Soviet aggression towards eastern Europe. A key moment … August 1939, when Hitler and Stalin signed a non-aggression pact and […]

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Molotov-Ribbentrop What? Do Russians Know Of Key World War II Pact?

History, Soviet Union, Military, Poland, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Map of Poland and Environs

(Article text ©2019 RFE/RL, Inc., Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty – rferl.org – Tony Wesolowsky, Matthew Luxmoore – August 22, 2019 – article text also appeared at rferl.org/a/molotov-ribbentrop-what-do-russians-know-of-key-wwii-pact/30123950.html) It’s an anniversary few in the Kremlin, or elsewhere in Russia for that matter, are keen to talk about — let alone remember in some way. Eighty years ago, on August 23, 1939, […]

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NEWSLINK: “Chrystia Freeland and the complexities of history [re: Ukraine]

Canada, History, Soviet Union, Newslinks, Poland, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War

“On March 8, the Globe and Mail reported that ‘Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland has known for more than two decades that her maternal Ukrainian grandfather was the chief editor of a Nazi newspaper in Nazi-occupied Poland.’ … Her grandfather, Michael Chomiak, was a Nazi propagandist for Krakivski Visti (Crakow News), supervised by German intelligence officer Emil Gassert. Its printing […]

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Nothing To Fear

Baltics, Estonia, Europe, EU, Latvia, Lithuania, Military, NATO, Poland, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Map of Baltics and Environs, Including Kaliningrad

(RFE/RL – rferl.org – The Daily Vertical: Brian Whitmore – July 18, 2016) So the big talking point coming out of the Kremlin is that NATO is overreacting to a non-existent Russian threat. According to Moscow, rotating just four combat battalion groups, a total of 4,000 troops, on the alliance’s eastern frontier constitutes a “provocation.” According to Vladimir Putin’s regime, […]

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Lawmakers: More U.S. Pushback Needed Against Russian Aggression

Europe, EU, Foreign Policy, Security, Visas, Georgia, Military, NATO, Poland, Sanctions, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
U.S. Capitol at Twilight With Washington Monument, National Mall, Washington, D.C., Environs and Sunset in Background

(Voice of America – voanews.com – Pamela Dockins – June 8, 2016) U.S. lawmakers have expressed concern that the Obama administration may not be engaged enough in countering what they view as Russia’s bad behavior in Ukraine and Georgia. “I worry that the message that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin must be taking from our response is that his limit-testing aggression […]

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NEWSWATCH: “Missile defense-Would the Kremlin pitch a deal?” – Brookings/Steven Pifer

Europe, EU, JRL NewsBlog, NATO, Nuclear, Missile Defense, Poland, Romania, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Aegis Ashore Missile Defense File Photo

On May 12, U.S. officials declared the U.S. SM-3 missile interceptor site at Deveselu, Romania operational. The next day, ground was broken at Redzikowo, Poland for a second SM-3 installation. Moscow immediately made clear its displeasure at these developments, repeating its past claims that U.S. missile defenses in Europe pose a threat to Russia. At the end of May, President […]

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NEWSWATCH: “The U.S. and Russia Plan for Conflict” – Stratfor

Baltics, Europe, EU, JRL NewsBlog, Military, NATO, Nuclear, Missile Defense, Poland, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
File Photo of F-22 Fighter and Ground Crew

… In critical areas, including … Syria and Ukraine and arms control … both [the United States and Russia] would genuinely like to negotiate viable solutions. Nevertheless … mistrust … runs deep … vast differences of opinion and outright conflicts of interest will continue to undermine efforts …. With little hope of a positive outcome, the strategic decision-makers in Washington […]

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Number of troops in NATO contingent in Baltic republics, Poland, Romania grows 23-fold, number of planes up 8-fold over past year – Shoigu

Baltics, Europe, EU, Military, NATO, Poland
Sergei Shoigu file photo, adapted from image at defense.gov by Steven C. Welsh, www.stevencwelsh.info :: www.stevencwelsh.com

MOSCOW. Dec 11 (Interfax) – The number of troops deployed in the Baltic republics and Central Europe has grown manifold over the past year, and modernization of U.S. nuclear air bombs is pending. “Over the past year alone, the NATO contingent in the Baltic countries, Poland and Romania has grown eight-fold in terms of planes and 23-fold by the number […]

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Kremlin’s Campaign against Russophobia Threatens both Russia and the West, Polish Experts Say

Europe, EU, Foreign Policy, Security, Visas, Media, Internet, Social Media, Television, Military, Poland, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections, Race, Ethnic, Extremism, Xenophobia, Russia & the West
Europe Map

(Paul Goble – Staunton, November 11, 2015) The Kremlin’s revival of a campaign against what it calls “Russophobia” constitutes a threat not only to Western countries but to Russia’s future as well, according to two Polish experts. As such, they argue, it can properly be described as “a weapon of mass destruction.” In a new study, “Russophobia in the Kremlin’s […]

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To Escape Putinism, Russia Must Expunge Muscovy as Germany Did Prussia, Sklyarov Says

Germany, Poland, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Moscow Night Lights Satellite Image

(Paul Goble – Window on Eurasia – Staunton, July 29, 2105) Many commentators suggest that the way to move beyond the Putin regime involves economic growth, de-militarization, and re-entering the international community, but “these are all second-order tasks” that pale in comparison with what is the most important one, according to Andrey Sklyarov. The historian says that the central task […]

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Moscow Times: How Poland Kept Putin Away From the Auschwitz Memorial

Poland
Auschwitz Concentration Entrance with Sign Arbeit Macht Frei

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Ivan Nechepurenko – January 23, 2015) Leading up to the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the Nazis’ largest concentration camp, organizers vowed that this year’s event would focus on the survivors, not the politicians. But as controversy runs rampant over President Vladimir Putin’s anticipated absence from the ceremony, it’s shaping up to be […]

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Interfax: Putin to not attend Auschwitz liberation anniversary events in Poland

History, Soviet Union, Human Rights, Poland
Auschwitz Concentration Entrance with Sign Arbeit Macht Frei

(Interfax – January 13, 2014) Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend ceremonies marking the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland on January 27, although the Russian leader attaches great importance to all commemorative events, Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov told Interfax on Tuesday. “The president’s schedule does not include such a trip,” he […]

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Interfax: Russia Criticizes Statements on Eastern Threats to NATO

Baltics, NATO, Poland
NATO Meeting file photo

MOSCOW. Nov 15 (Interfax) – The Russian Foreign Ministry has expressed surprise about the statements made by some Polish and Baltic countries leaders saying that the NATO training Steadfast Jazz 2013 indicates the allies’ readiness to defend the Eastern European countries from threats from the East. “Is it really appropriate to speak seriously about any threats of attack against NATO […]

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Interfax: World Russian People’s Congress calls on Poles to stop hating Russians

Poland
Polish and Russian Flags

MOSCOW. Nov 14 (Interfax) – The World Russian People’s Congress believes the recent incident near the Russian Embassy in Warsaw is a result of Russophobia, which is cultivated in some groups of Polish society. “The main reason for these outrageous actions is the constant fuelling of hate for Russia and the Russian people in some parts of Polish society,” the […]

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RIA Novosti: Polish President Apologizes for Attack on Russian Embassy

Europe, EU, Poland, Terrorism
Polish and Russian Flags

WARSAW, November 13 (RIA Novosti) ­ The president of Poland apologized to Russia on Wednesday for the attack by a nationalist mob on the Russian Embassy in Warsaw, calling the episode outrageous and unjustifiable. “We need to apologize on behalf of the Polish state,” President Bronislaw Komorowski told privately owned broadcaster Radio Zet. Thousands of people paraded through Warsaw on […]

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Interfax: Attack on Russian Embassy in Warsaw was unprecedented in scale – spokesperson

Europe, EU, Poland
Polish and Russian Flags

MOSCOW. Nov 12 (Interfax) – An attack Monday on the Russian Embassy in Warsaw by Polish nationalists was unprecedented in its scale, Russian Embassy spokesperson Valeria Perzhinskaya said on the Voice of Russia radio on Tuesday. “Nationalists take some actions against our diplomatic mission from time to time. However, this is the first time we see it on such a […]

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