Marcin Przydacz made the statement after holding meetings with US officials in Washington on Monday, Poland's PAP news agency reported.
He had spoken with US President Joe Biden’s advisors on Europe and Russia, Amanda Sloat and Eric Green, as well as with State Department officials, according to the Polish state news agency.
Asked about the possibility of further reinforcements to the North Atlantic Alliance’s eastern edge, Przydacz told the media: “We have received assurances that if the security situation deteriorates, the United States is ready to take further steps.”
He added that although “patience is required” when it comes to concrete decisions, the United States intends to act both on a bilateral basis and through NATO.
Przydacz told reporters that his talks with American diplomats “were ... concrete and productive,” touching on subjects such as possible sanctions against both Russia and Belarus.
'Polish perspective was important'
“Poland plays an important role in striking a common position within the European Union, and the Americans appreciate it,” Przydacz said.
“The fact that the Polish perspective was important just before a visit by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, demonstrates Poland’s role in American policy,” he added.
Przydacz also told reporters that his talks in Washington dealt with "various possible scenarios" of Russian aggression against Ukraine and the potential admission of refugees by Poland.
According to a recent estimate by the Pentagon, a full-scale Russian invasion could spark an exodus of up to 5 million Ukrainians, the PAP news agency reported.
'Gigantic role to play'
“Poland, as a neighbouring state, has a gigantic role to play,” Przydacz said. “We are in contact not just with the US, but other allies as well. We have to be prepared for every scenario.”
Przydacz added he had also spoken to US officials about energy security and the need for countries to avoid “continued dependence on Russian raw materials,” which he said "is being used to destabilise and influence political decisions in the key capitals.”
Planes carrying US troops and army equipment landed in Poland over the weekend as part of efforts to bolster NATO's eastern flank and reinforce allies in Eastern Europe amid a Russian military buildup near Ukraine.
Russia's military buildup near Ukraine has in recent weeks raised fears in the West that Moscow may be preparing for a new invasion of the country.
Moscow has denied plans for an assault but says it could take unspecified military action if its security demands are not met, the Reuters news agency has reported.
Russia annexed the Crimea peninsula from Ukraine in 2014 and then fomented a separatist conflict in that country's eastern Donbas region, leading to a wave of EU and US sanctions against Moscow and Russian officials.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP