Kowal says Poland lost nearly 500 billion euros to the war in Ukraine
Paweł Kowal, the KO MP who chairs the Council for Cooperation with Ukraine, cited a team built with the head of the Central Statistical Office. He also criticised President Karol Nawrocki for not being more active on Trump-Putin talks.
The 500 billion euro claim
Paweł Kowal, a Civic Coalition (KO) MP who chairs the Council for Cooperation with Ukraine, said Poland had lost nearly 500 billion euros because of the war in Ukraine. He made the statement on the Polsat News programme Gość Wydarzeń, with the report published on 12 October 2026. Kowal said the figure comes from a team he created together with the head of the Central Statistical Office. According to him, the team's work shows that even third countries such as Poland are losing out on the Russian war. Kowal said that Polish politicians in this situation should give citizens a sense of security, document the losses and spend money on armaments, adding that "we are doing this".
Arms spending and US bases
Kowal said Poland was spending more on armaments, in line with what President Donald Trump wanted, and was buying from the United States. He said Poland was counting on bases and a permanent American military presence on its territory, with those decisions expected this year. He also said that Poland had done a great deal at government and parliamentary level on this issue. As chair of the Sejm Foreign Affairs Committee, he said he had brought in representatives of all parliamentary clubs who understand Poland's strategic situation.
We are spending, as President Trump wanted, even more on armaments. We buy in the United States. That is why we are counting on bases and a permanent American presence on Polish territory, and on these decisions being made this year.
Criticism of the president and the US-Russia deal
The programme's presenter, Magda Sakowska, asked Kowal whether he would expect President Karol Nawrocki to speak with Trump. The question noted that on Friday, 9 October, the US president signed an agreement with Vladimir Putin on supplies of Russian oil to the United States and on Washington's suspension of sanctions against Russia. Kowal said he had long argued that he would expect more from the Polish president on security issues. He said a call to Trump should be a natural reaction.
Because it is obvious that if America eases sanctions, it works against our interests.
Kowal said a greater level of activity from the president was lacking.
Rumours and criticism of PiS
FAKT24 reported that Kowal was also asked about rumours that Trump had reportedly suggested to Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz that he change the governing coalition and move to the opposition. The articles describe these as rumours and do not report what Kowal said in response. On a separate point, Kowal criticised PiS politicians who, in his words, travelled to the United States and, using their contacts in the White House, encouraged the American administration to influence changes in the Polish government.
When I hear that PiS politicians travelled to the United States and, having contacts in the White House, encourage the American administration to influence changes of government in Poland, I think it is a sin and a disgrace.
