Poland Proposes European Legion With Ukrainian Veterans

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski has proposed the establishment of a European Legion, a permanent military force, comprising Ukrainian veterans with combat experience post the Russia-led conflict. Sikorski made these remarks during an interview with Ekathimerini, emphasizing the need for deeper military integration and autonomous defense capabilities within the EU.

He argued for Europe to assume greater responsibility for its security and reduce dependency on US assistance during crises, noting that Washington's strategic focus is now shifting toward the Indo-Pacific. Sikorski clarified that the proposed European Legion is not meant to replace NATO but to strengthen the European component within the alliance.

He underscored that while the US remains the "indispensable anchor" of collective defense, Europe must shoulder the "heavy lifting on the ground." The minister also highlighted Russia's use of hybrid warfare tactics against NATO, including strategic camouflage, disinformation, and orchestrated provocations. Sikorski pointed to incidents such as a Russian cruise missile violating Polish airspace and attempts to sabotage railway infrastructure as evidence of these tactics.

He cited a 140% increase in cyberattacks in Poland last year, which has spurred the country to bolster its cyber defense frameworks. Sikorski's proposal aligns with Poland's ongoing efforts to modernize its military, with the country hosting its largest-ever military parade in Warsaw to mark Armed Forces Day. The parade featured over 60 military aircraft and nearly 2,000 troops, displaying new hardware like US-designed F-35 fighter jets.

Poland allocated nearly 4.7% of its GDP to defense in 2025, with a target of reaching 5% in 2026 and aiming to expand its armed forces to 500,000 service members by 2039.