Daijiworld Media Network - Helsinki

Helsinki, Sep 9: Polish President Karol Nawrocki has issued a stark warning that Russian President Vladimir Putin could launch invasions beyond Ukraine, urging NATO unity and stronger defense preparedness.

“We do not trust Vladimir Putin’s good intentions,” Nawrocki told reporters in Helsinki on Tuesday, where he appeared alongside Finnish President Alexander Stubb. “While waiting for long-term peace, which is necessary for our regions, we believe that Vladimir Putin is ready to also invade other countries.”

Poland and Finland, both NATO members sharing borders with Russia, have been on high alert since Moscow’s 2022 assault on Ukraine. Nawrocki said Poland is “developing our armed forces, our partnerships, and allied relations,” stressing that the regional “security architecture has changed.”

In a pointed remark, the Polish leader described US President Donald Trump as “the only leader of the free world who could force Putin to negotiate.” Last week, Trump had welcomed Nawrocki to the White House with a military flyover and pledged to send additional troops to Poland.

Echoing the concerns, Finland’s Stubb said, “We try to explain that Putin cannot be trusted, that Putin is playing his usual delay tactics.” His comments came as European leaders press Washington to remain engaged in efforts to end the Ukraine war.

On Monday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also warned that Putin’s “imperialist plan wouldn’t end with the conquest of Ukraine” but could extend to other nations, amplifying fears of wider instability across Europe.