Tusk warns of Russian escalation and 600,000-troop mobilization after NATO briefing

Consultations with NATO leadership

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk spoke with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on 29 August 2026 to assess conditions on the Ukrainian front and across the wider region. Following the phone call, Tusk stated on social media platform X that Russian military escalation continues to advance and that the next six months will be decisive for Poland and the alliance. He called on European partners to increase air defence assistance for Ukraine, linking the security of Ukrainian airspace directly to the safety of Poland and the broader continent. Tusk stated that both Poland and NATO must prepare for multiple scenarios, noting that allied governments cannot rule out Russian provocations directed against member states.

Ukraine needs more support in the air, which is also important for our security. This is a task for all of Europe.

Intelligence on Russian mobilization plans

Tusk discussed the regional security outlook on 28 August 2026 during a meeting with attendees at Campus Polska Przyszłości in Olsztyn. Citing intelligence evaluations from partner services, Tusk stated that Moscow is preparing to mobilize 600,000 soldiers. He noted that conducting a mobilization of this scale in the current condition of the Russian economy indicates a clear plan to intensify military operations rather than seek peace. According to the prime minister, technical indicators such as mobilization preparations make these actions recognizable to intelligence agencies. Tusk stated that the coming seven to eight months, particularly the autumn and winter periods, will be critical for regional stability.

In the fairly objective assessments of various services, the Russians want to mobilize 600,000 soldiers. In the economic situation of Russia, this is a gigantic undertaking, and as you can guess, they are not to be mobilized for peaceful actions.

CIA mission and allied coordination

The prime minister also addressed questions regarding a visit to Moscow by CIA Director John Ratcliffe earlier in the week. Ratcliffe arrived in the Russian capital on Tuesday aboard a C-17 Globemaster military transport aircraft and departed after roughly four hours, according to open-source flight tracking data. Polish media cited reports from the Wall Street Journal and Politico stating that the mission delivered a direct warning to Russian officials against launching attacks on NATO members, specifically the Baltic states. Tusk confirmed that Polish authorities remain in continuous contact with CIA leadership and received prior notice regarding urgent high-level consultations between Poland and the United States. The flight mirrored a 2021 trip to Moscow by then-CIA Director Bill Burns to warn Russian leadership.

Prior warnings and defensive preparations

Tusk recalled earlier public warnings he gave several weeks prior, including in an interview with the Financial Times, regarding the risk of Russian provocations or a limited attack against alliance members. He observed that while several commentators initially dismissed those warnings, multiple intelligence indicators have since entered the public domain. Tusk explained that while operational aspects of state security require confidentiality, the primary assessments of regional threats should not be hidden from citizens. Polish authorities and NATO allies continue to align their defensive posture to prepare for potential contingencies along the eastern flank as Moscow intensifies its military posture for the autumn and winter.