 Good afternoon everybody. My name is Jerry Fitzgerald and I'm a member of the Institute It is my pleasure to welcome our speaker today, Mr. Adam Bugasky So if I could just go through some routine issues first and then I will give some background material on Mr. Bugasky The presentation will last for 20 minutes 25 minutes followed by a Q&A session The presentation itself is on the record and the Q&A session is Chatham House Rules Also If you choose to follow us on Twitter, please use the handle at IIEA and one final Request if I could if you have a question, please raise your hand so we can pick you up and if you could identify yourself and Give us any affiliation that you have. Thank you now Russia Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine has dramatically changed the European security equation Prompting many European countries to reprioritize security and defense policy Poland has been among the EU's largest contributors of support to Ukraine in its defense against Russia's unprovoked war of aggression Furthermore as one of Europe's top military spenders in terms of GDP Poland is playing a growing role in European security dynamics both at the EU and the NATO level In his address today Mr. Bugasky Bugasky will address and discuss the impact of Russia's war on European security from the perspective of Poland And if you could indulge me a little bit more, I'd like to say a few words of Mr. Bugasky himself He was appointed as the security policy director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland in November 2019 In this position he deals with Polish security policy with regard to NATO the EU the OSCE and other international organizations as well as bilateral corporations in security and defense Prior to his current assignment He was the permanent representative of Poland to the UN office and the international organizations in Vienna His previous roles were included the security policy director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the director The deputy director of the Department of Strategy and Foreign Policy and the deputy permanent representative of Poland to NATO So a large background there in security matters in Europe. So I'm delighted to introduce Mr. Bugasky Thank you very much. Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen Thank you for the introduction and I would like to thank all of you for gathering here and the staff of the Institute of International and European Affairs for inviting me to Speak today. I'll be happy to present and also to discuss The Polish perspective on security in Europe in a rather difficult time of war On February 24th 2022 the European security architecture crumbled down and the rules based international order that was supposed to guarantor of our peaceful coexistence was rendered ineffective with Russian full-scale aggression against Ukraine and This was in our appeal a turning point as today we find ourself In a situation of no return to the pre-war order While we deal with the consequences of the Russian aggression. We we also have to adapt to this new Dramatically change security situation It's hard to fully predict How and war how and when the war will end But as we reflect on how the future security order in Europe could Look like I would point out four elements that we in Poland see as crucial drivers for our thinking First Russia is the most significant and direct threat to your Atlantic security and to peace and stability in Europe the unprovoked and unjustified Invasion brought death and suffering to thousands of innocent men women and children whose only fault was the dream of freedom sovereignty and democracy outside of the so-called Ruski's mirror Despite heavy losses in Ukraine Russia's wider strategic goals have not changed it wants to destroy the sovereign Ukraine statehood and Secondly to revise the European security order it wants to rebuild its fear of influence Belarus is example of The submission that Russia expects Although it is tempting to assume that distance Brits Safety it is not so in case of Russia Moscow wages war by any means available Be them open or clandestine For example, Russia for Russia everything can be weaponized energy food Information thus Russia will continue to pose a threat to the whole Europe and In consequence to the world at large in the foreseeable future the plans to deploy To deploy Russia tactical nuclear weapons on the Belarusian territory are exactly aimed at Escalating long-term threats towards towards us all We cannot we cannot let Russia win or freeze the conflict That would only serve Moscow as an opportunity to regroup and prepare for the next phase of its aggression On other European states and it would encourage other Authoritarian regimes to use threats and armed aggression to pursue their goals This is why we think that Moscow's Strategic defeat in Ukraine is in the interest of all three nations of the world. It's this that is why Europe should keep standing by Ukraine to its victory and That is why Russia must be stopped and held accountable for the crimes it committed in Ukraine second element we identified As crucial is the critical role of the United States for European security It was Washington that has been leading our efforts to prevent the war. It was the United States That has been advancing the reinforcement of NATO's defense and details on the eastern flank once Russia rejected dialogue and it is the United States that is spreading our efforts to Provide support to fight in Ukraine's despite all the rhetorics about US pivot to Asia the US military presence in Europe has been recently strengthened Europe should build strategic partnership with the United States and not look for strategic autonomy from the US in security matters But partnership is a relationship of equals A strong and capable Europe will be an attractive partner for a US a partner with which Washington can and should share the responsibility for peace in Europe and for preserving the rules-based international order globally third the war reinforced the relevance and credibility of NATO the commitment of Arctic of collective defense proved to be the best guarantee of security of members of the North Atlantic Alliance This was underscored by really in a spectacular way by Finland and Sweden walking away from their well, 200 a year policy of non-alignment and Thus joining NATO Specific provisions of the treaty on the European Union could not satisfy Those countries need for safety and security It was only the article 5 of the Washington Treaty and NATO member states potential That had the necessary strength Poland gladly welcome the Sovereign decision of those states to join the alliance Finland is already a member of NATO once Sweden joins the alliance 96% of the European Union population Will live in a NATO country and therefore will be protected by the provisions of the Washington Treaty Fort observation that is guiding our strategic thinking is the necessity to build upon the exemplary Complementarity of NATO and the EU Demonstrated in response to a common threat Both organizations have worked hand-in-hand and have made best use of the instruments at their disposal To address the developing situation while NATO ramped up is the defense is to deter the threat to European territory The European Union imposed sanctions on Russia and Belarus and provided support to Ukraine for the first time in Its history the EU decided to purchase and deliver military equipment to support the state in its struggle With a military aggression within a couple of months. It set up a military Training mission for Ukraine unforeseen Those were really breakthrough decisions that will further mark the development of The C's DP of the EU ladies and gentlemen our goal and I mean for all of us is to restore Lasting peace in Europe. This can be achieved only through Ukraine victory through respect For the nose of international role and establishment of more system systemic institutional barriers that would protect us all from another Imperial aggression to that effect point is ready to cooperate With countries in our direct neighborhood in the whole transatlantic community to make sure that Those solutions and principles are implemented and respected in Europe These are long-term criteria for our success in the short term Poland We focus on assuring our defense and supporting Ukraine to achieve that We act on three different levels national through NATO and through the European year Our national efforts focus first and foremost on investing in our own security and defense We have lunch on an unprecedented Program of modernization of our unfausts. We are procuring most advanced fighter jets Helicopters tanks frigates and artillery systems. We are restoring military bases in eastern part of the country We've aimed at increasing the number of troops in the coming years. Those plans are much with necessary Increasing the level of defense spending We will be spending at least three percent of GDP per year on Defense in the coming decade due to imminent Needs of our military this year those expenditures will reach over four percent of GDP NATO is the most fundamental pillar of our defense in the international context therefore the adaptation of NATO's defense and deterrence posture to The new reality remains our priority in 2016 The alliance has established an enhanced forward presence in Poland Lithuania Latvia and Latvia and Estonia It was the last year That mark a real turning point in NATO's approach to defense of the Eastern flank NATO accelerated the process of its military adaptation in order to respond to the threat from Russia It established additional battle groups on the eastern flank and Significantly increased the number of allied troops present along the whole flank the adaptation continues after the horrors of Russia atrocities in Bucha Irpian and Marjupol Poland's priorities to ensure that the alliance deterrence and defense posture is robust enough to prevent any potential aggression aggressor from intrusion on allied territory We hope that by the upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius We will have in place most of the elements to achieve that goal. We need for example the data defense plans more military capabilities prepositioned equipment and faster reaction The new reality will also require the European Union to adapt I have already mentioned the potential of the war in Ukraine woke up woke up within the security and defense policy of the EU We we have to build upon that to further support Ukrainians in defense of their country and defense of Europe they you should also Plan for the recovery and reconstruction of the of the country after the war. We have to recognize that We have a strategic interest in bringing Ukraine to European Union eventually and eventually to NATO To effectively anchor it in the Euro-Atlantic structures ladies and gentlemen the Russian war of aggression has a fundamental impact both on the security of On the security and everyday lives of Polish people Why some of our Western? Partners may still find this war to be a distant matter countries neighboring Ukraine are faced directly with Consequences several millions of refugees found shelter in Poland And acquire necessary medical care in my country Currently there are probably more than Two and a half million Ukrainians on our soil 200,000 of Ukrainian children are integrated into the education system at the same time being given an opportunity to continue virtual classes in Ukraine while the integration of Ukrainians is progressing smoothly it still comes at the cost to our economy Thus bringing this war to an end is our priority and the only way to do this is through Ukrainian Victory and Russian defeat to that end Poland is a key donor of military equipment Our defense support to Ukraine has amounted by now to more than three and a half billion euros and is ongoing Since the beginning of the war we have donated over 350 tanks to Ukraine We let a white low-port collision and quickly assembling and equipping to Ukraine tank battalions and our decision to transfer our MIG 29 fighter jets was another important step in the field of military assistance to Ukraine upon our initiative the European Union set up a military assistance mission for Ukraine that has already trained more than 15,000 Ukrainian soldiers Poland is hosting the missions Multilateral operation or command as well as providing training for the largest number of Ukrainian soldiers Out of all EU countries We see those actions as a necessity to help Ukraine's but also as an investment in our own future and the future of whole Europe But as the outcome of the war in Ukraine will have a fundamental impact on security of all of us This is a fight all of us need to actively join in in whatever capacity We can we should all here in Europe act together and in solidarity to assure the advancement of Imperial aggression is halted in Ukraine and by Ukraine in order to restore peace and Security on our continent lastly on a personal note last Friday was in Kiev and held consultations with my Ukraine counterparts and really I keep my fingers crossed for their their plans and hope the Military efforts will be fully successful bringing this barbaric war Closer to an end. Thank you very much