Justyna Gotkowska of the OSW warned in an interview published on September 19, 2026 that the effort of Donald Trump's administration to make a fast deal with Russia at the expense of Donbas would not bring lasting peace. It may, on the another hand, dare the Kremlin to attack Ukraine and NATO's east flank. For Poland, this means greater military hazard and force on your own safety.
Washington wants to show success quickly
Part of Donald Trump's administration inactive believes that an agreement based on political and economical interest can be concluded with Moscow. As Dr. Justyna Gotkowska, Deputy manager of the Center for east Studies, said in the program "No Doctrine", the price of specified an arrangement would be to surrender Russia to Ukrainian territories, including Donbas. Virtual Poland published the interview on September 19.
The force on the White home besides has sources in U.S. home policy. Gotkowska pointed to more costly fuels, criticism of administration and run before half-election for Congress. In this situation, fast abroad success becomes politically valuable to Trump. The problem is that the U.S. electoral calendar cannot find the safety conditions of states located on the east flank of NATO.
The authoritative White home position besides shows the second direction of American politics. In July administration supported the legislative amendment expanding the anticipation of imposing sanctions on Russia, presenting them as a tool of force for a peace agreement. It's an crucial distinction. Negotiations supported by costs imposed on an aggressor are something another than territorial concessions imposed on an assaulted country.
Donbas has military significance
Kiev rejects a solution that would mean agreeing to donbass. Ms Gotkowska stressed that the Ukrainian authorities saw this as a threat to the capital. Russia would have time to rebuild its forces, and its troops could in future launch a fresh offensive with more favourable positions. A truce without hard guarantees and effective deterrence would become an operating break for the Kremlin, not the end of Russian ambition.
This assessment must be read through the experience of fresh years. Moscow treats concessions as a confirmation that force is profitable. Russian force on Poland already goes beyond the front in Ukraine: includes hybrid activities, airspace violations and attempts to intimidate the countries of the region. Any agreement that rewards territorial aggression reduces the cost of another move.
Poland will pay for the incorrect peace
Gotkowska warned that a policy of fast agreement could give Russians a sense of greater impunity and prompt them to intensify attacks on Ukraine and the east flank of the Alliance. It's not abstract fear. NATO reports Russian airspace violations, cyber attacks and sabotage acts increase in frequencyand Russia considers the most serious direct threat to the safety of allies.
For Poland, the bill is simple. A weak peace in Ukraine would shift Russian force closer to our borders and forced Warsaw to spend even more on military, air defence and infrastructure protection. Ensuring NATO's readiness to defend Poland are important, but do not exempt states from building their own strength. The alliance works reliably erstwhile front states are prepared to defend from the first hours of crisis.
Peace requires strength, not haste
Trump has the right to follow the interests of the United States. Poland has the same work to its own citizens. Warsaw should make it clear to Washington that a lasting agreement must limit Russia's ability to attack again alternatively than finance its reconstruction and leave the way open for another war.
Diplomacy is needed due to the fact that all war will end in conversation. However, peace bought by another people's territory and without real safety would be a bill issued later in Poland and the full region. The Polish state's rationale is to keep strong NATO, its own defence capabilities and specified a strategy of forces in which the Kremlin is more afraid of the cost of aggression than it expects to profit from the Western rush.
Source: Virtual Poland
Source: WP News
