Russian plans include strikes against Ukraine's allies, Polish PM says

In short: 

Donald Tusk has said Russia's plans for war against Ukraine include "hybrid" drone and missile attacks against Kyiv's allies. 

The Polish prime minister told the country's parliament that there was a "real risk" that drones may fall in NATO territory. 

It comes amid growing tension between Russia and the European countries supporting Kyiv. 

Russia's plans in the war against Ukraine include "hybrid" drone and missile strikes against Kyiv's allies, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said. 

His comments came amid growing tension between Russia and the European countries supporting Kyiv in its conflict with Moscow, as the war drags on into its fifth year.

Mr Tusk made the comments in a speech to the Polish parliament.

"The Russian plan, according to intelligence assessments … includes hybrid strikes using drones and missiles on countries supporting Ukraine, including Poland," he told deputies.

"There is a real risk that drones … may fall on the territory of one or several NATO countries on the eastern flank."

And while such incidents might cause "destruction", Moscow's "official narrative will be that this is an accident," Mr Tusk said.

The aim, he said, was to weaken NATO's overall cohesion and to convince NATO countries "that Article 5 is more theoretical than practical".

Mr Tusk is set to visit Ukraine on Friday, where he will also meet Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.

Poland, a NATO and EU member state along the alliance's Eastern flank, has accused Russia of "sabotage" on several occasions since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The NATO and EU member has become the main hub for transporting Western military and humanitarian support to Kyiv. 

US plans for army base in Poland

In a separate development, US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that progress was being made toward establishing a US Army base in Poland, crediting "the bold leadership" of Polish President Karol Nawrocki.

"If this happens, the location will be announced very soon. This will be a historic step for our Great US/Polish alliance," Mr Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

Poland has been pushing ⁠for a bigger allied presence on ​NATO's eastern flank after Russia's invasion ​of neighbouring Ukraine in 2022.

In June, Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said the US Department of Defense was open to ​Poland's offer to host a permanent ‌US military presence in Poland, but that no decision had been taken.

The minister met with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in June in Brussels, where the Pentagon chief announced a review of America's troop deployments in Europe.