Key facts
- Poland averted a direct threat to one of its border crossings with Ukraine overnight.
- Prime Minister Donald Tusk expects Russia will target border crossings with Ukraine.
- Tusk cited a drone attack on a Ukraine-Moldova border crossing that killed two people.
- Tusk stated he received a "fairly precise report" from the CIA regarding potential events in the coming months.
- Tusk has repeatedly warned NATO's eastern flank countries about potential Russian provocations.
Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Thursday that Russia is expected to target border crossings with Ukraine, including those in Poland, as part of Moscow's strategy to weaken Kyiv economically. Tusk's remarks came after drones struck a border crossing between Ukraine and Moldova in the Odesa region, resulting in two fatalities.
"Last night, thanks to cooperation between our services and their Ukrainian counterparts, a direct threat to one of the border crossings was averted," Tusk told a press conference in Bratislava, Slovakia. He added, "As you know, Russia has already resorted to provocative attacks on border crossings - for instance, in Moldova. We expect similar actions targeting border crossings with Ukraine in other countries, including Poland."
Russia has not yet commented on Tusk's statements. Tusk has consistently warned countries on NATO's eastern flank to prepare for potential provocations from Russia, which invaded Ukraine in 2022. He also mentioned receiving a "fairly precise report directly from the CIA regarding possible events in the coming months," which aligned with his ongoing warnings. Tusk emphasized the need for Poland and Europe to prepare for various scenarios concerning the situation on the Russian-Ukrainian front and along the EU's eastern flank.