Polish minister says this winter may be Putin’s final opportunity to break Ukraine
Photo: Radosław Sikorski (Getty Images)
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski stated that the upcoming winter could be Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's last hope to break Ukraine. At the same time, he noted that Russia is trying to sow discord between Poles and Ukrainians, according to the official's statement on TVP Info.
Sikorski emphasized that Putin is advancing, continuing his bombardment, and that it is he who is the enemy of both Poland and Ukraine, not Warsaw and Kyiv of each other.
The official noted that Moscow has for decades used the pitting of Poles against Ukrainians for its own geopolitical interests.
"Throughout history, since the 17th century, Russian agents have pitted us against Ukrainians. We cannot be geopolitical simpletons and fail to understand this logic," the minister said.
He also warned Russia against possible provocations against NATO member countries, including Poland. Sikorski did not rule out that the Kremlin could stage hybrid operations, but emphasized that public warnings about such scenarios reduce the chances that the provocations will succeed.
Separately, the head of the Polish Foreign Ministry commented on the meeting between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. According to him, it is impossible to resolve anything in 37 minutes of a meeting.
"Ultimately, I do not see any room for cooperation, because Putin would have to lower his ambitions regarding the capture of Ukraine. He would have to realize that this war was a criminal mistake. But that is certainly not going to happen," the Polish minister stated.
During the broadcast, he also pointed to Russia's economic problems. According to Sikorski, in the first two quarters of this year, Moscow sold 44 tons of gold from its reserves. This, in turn, is the highest figure in history, which may indicate a gradual depletion of the country's resources.
The minister suggested that the winter of 2026–2027 could be Putin's last hope to try to break Ukraine.
"This means that Russia is running out of resources. This winter could be Putin's last hope to break Ukraine. And it is in our interest that Ukraine not only withstands but also wins this war," Sikorski concluded.
Other statements by Sikorski
A week earlier, Sikorski stated that Russia does not have the resources to carry out a military attack on Poland. He noted that Putin will ultimately be defeated in the war against Ukraine.
According to Sikorski, Russia may be preparing a false flag operation in which it uses Ukrainian drones.
