Mateusz Morawiecki made the statement after Finland and Sweden formally asked to join NATO, submitting their applications at the Western military alliance's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium a day earlier.
Speaking during a conference in Warsaw on Thursday, Morawiecki said: “I consider the accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO as an important sign of strengthening security in Europe, and a serious defeat for the Kremlin.”
‘Poland will come to their aid'
He added: “I want to make it clear that in the event of an attack on Sweden and Finland during their accession process, Poland will come to their aid.”
‘United we are much stronger than Russia’
Morawiecki told the Strategy Ark conference in the Polish capital that “Russia can only be deterred by our unity, military capabilities and hard sanctions."
"United we are much stronger than Russia,” he declared.
He added: “Putin is not the madman that some claim him to be. He knows that the only way to defeat the West is to divide it. Therefore, as a counteroffensive, we must build a new unity.”
‘Permanent allied bases should be established' on NATO's eastern flank
Morawiecki also told the Warsaw gathering that “permanent allied bases should be established" in countries on the eastern flank on NATO.
“Poland is ready to build such bases, which would station light troops on a permanent basis,” he said.
President, top ministers to discuss Ukraine war on Thursday
Meanwhile, President Andrzej Duda has announced plans to convene with Morawiecki and senior government ministers to discuss the Ukraine war later in the day, state news agency PAP reported.
Duda wants to discuss the latest developments in Ukraine, Polish support for the eastern neighbour and cooperation with allies, including Sweden's and Finland’s bids to join the NATO alliance, presidential aides told reporters.
Thursday is day 85 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, bbn.gov.pl, YouTube
Click on the audio player above for a report by Radio Poland's Michał Owczarek.