Mariusz Błaszczak made the observation at a NATO event in Warsaw, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
‘Shocking surprise' for Moscow
Launching the Western alliance’s Resilience Symposium 2022, Błaszczak said: “Our firm response to Russia’s actions came as a shocking surprise to Moscow, and was met by some reaction, such as the suspension of gas supplies to certain countries, including Poland.”
Błaszczak cautioned, however, that Europe’s “long-standing dependence on Russian hydrocarbons” was “weakening our reaction” to Russian aggression against Ukraine.
He told the gathering that Poland “has welcomed more than 3 million refugees since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24.”
Błaszczak also said that the Kremlin was "mounting cyberattacks on certain countries, as well as hybrid assaults, by pushing migrants towards the border of the European Union, for instance."
Russia 'unlikely to change'
He added that “the threats to Europe’s security, especially on the eastern flank of NATO, that have existed since 2014, persist and will continue.”
He warned: “Even if Russia loses in Ukraine, it is highly unlikely to change its paradigm towards the West, its approach to the current international order.”
Poland is a 'highly valued ally’: top NATO official
Meanwhile, NATO’s Deputy Secretary-General Mircea Geoană described Poland as “a highly valued ally.”
Speaking via video link from Brussels, Geoană added: “You are showing incredible solidarity at this dangerous time, opening your borders to the hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing the conflict, providing humanitarian assistance and military assistance, critical to help Ukraine defend itself.”
The launch of the symposium also featured the Supreme Allied Commander for Transformation (NATO SACT), Gen. Phillippe Lavigne, officials said.
Held at Warsaw’s War Studies University (ASW), the two-day event explores the challenges and threats to international security, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.
Thursday is day 71 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Poland on Thursday reported it had welcomed more than 3.16 million refugees fleeing Russia’s war on Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP, nato.int