Russia Has Attacked Ukraine’s Allies for 5 Years, Trump Says

US President Donald Trump claimed that Russia has been targeting Ukraine's allies for years, characterizing Moscow's aggression against European partners as an ongoing issue. During a press conference on Friday, Sept. 18, Trump was asked about Polish leaders' concerns over Russia potentially escalating the war by attacking Ukraine's Western allies.

The president stated that such strikes had already begun, adding that everyone agrees with his assessment. Trump did not provide details on the specific incidents he referred to, but his remarks came at a time when European capitals are increasingly worried about Russian hybrid warfare, cyberattacks, and airspace incursions against NATO and EU member states.

This aligns with recent bilateral talks between the United States and Poland, aimed at establishing a dedicated US Army base on Polish soil. The commander-in-chief of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, commended Trump, describing his commitment as "bold leadership." Polish officials believe that hosting a permanent American base would bolster NATO's eastern flank and serve as a strong deterrent against Russian aggression.

Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz plans to visit Washington next week to discuss security guarantees and a permanent military deployment with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Kosiniak-Kamysz expects a final decision on the proposal within the coming weeks. The Polish government estimates that building the necessary infrastructure for a permanent US deployment would cost between 15 billion and 17 billion złoty ($3.95 billion to $4.48 billion).

Poland proposed this idea in June, following the announcement by the United States to redeploy 5,000 troops from Germany.