Sikorski says NATO would strike back if Russia attacks, confirms he warned Moscow

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski has stated that NATO would respond with military force if Russia were to attack a member of the alliance. He said he had already delivered this warning directly to Moscow.

According to Sikorski, the purpose of the warning was to deter Russia from taking any action that could escalate into a broader conflict. In other words, the statement was not intended to raise tensions further, but rather to achieve the opposite effect — persuading Moscow to refrain from steps whose consequences could become difficult to control.

Message addressed directly to Russia

The remarks from Poland's top diplomat indicate that he wanted this position known not only to the public but communicated directly to the Russian side as well. Sikorski emphasized that NATO stands ready to respond to any attack on its member states, framing the statement as a warning rather than a threat intended to provoke confrontation.

The minister's comments fit into a broader ongoing discussion about NATO-Russia relations, in which alliance representatives periodically stress their readiness to defend the territory of member states. As Poland's foreign minister, Sikorski represents a country that borders both Russia and Belarus, making regional security issues especially relevant for Warsaw.

Sikorski's warning is being characterized as an attempt to prevent a situation in which Russian actions could lead to a wider military conflict. The minister did not provide further details on when or in what form the warning was conveyed to Moscow.