Sikorski estimates how much defending NATO's eastern flank could cost

Poland's Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski is expected to say in a speech to the Sejm (Polish parliament) on Thursday 26 February that Russian aggression against NATO's eastern flank would cost those countries at least €1.2 trillion.

Onet reports that the Polish foreign minister will state, in particular, that if Ukraine loses, the threat from Russia will not diminish but will increase.

He is expected to present calculations showing that, in the event of potential Russian aggression, defending NATO's eastern flank countries, including Poland, would cost at least €1.2 trillion – almost as much as six years of the cost of operating the Polish state.

Sikorski also plans to say that, contrary to its propaganda, Russia is not winning the war against Ukraine. He will argue that Russia has lost its chance for democratisation and modernisation, citing data on approximately 1.2 million Russian soldiers killed or wounded, the loss of access to Western markets for Russian companies due to sanctions, and the fact that defence spending now consumes up to 40% of Russia's budget.

According to the Polish foreign minister, the sanctions imposed on Russia are working and are clearly weakening its economy and, consequently, its war machine.

Sikorski is expected to say that Russia is making a historic mistake and is sacrificing its future on the altar of an unnecessary war.

Sikorski recently stressed that Europe has every right to a seat at the negotiating table regarding the Russia-Ukraine war.

He also said he would support Donald Trump's nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize, provided the US president succeeds in securing a just peace for Ukraine.