Following a recent incident involving Russian drones in Poland, security expert Wolfgang Ischinger has proposed increased German financial aid for Polish defense. Speaking to Funke-Mediengruppe newspapers, Ischinger emphasized the renewed urgency of strengthening NATO’s eastern flank in light of the drone incident, suggesting innovative approaches are now required.
He proposed that Germany could allocate a larger portion of its planned increase in defense spending to Poland, allowing them to procure weapons and ammunition, potentially from German manufacturers. Ischinger believes this measure could not only visibly strengthen NATO’s eastern flank but also improve German-Polish relations and potentially de-escalate ongoing Polish reparations claims.
Ischinger cautioned that the conflict in Ukraine is likely to continue for a prolonged period and anticipates that peace negotiations, even with efforts by US President Donald Trump, are not currently foreseeable. He stated that Europeans must now take decisive action to demonstrate that Russian President Putin will not achieve his objectives. As part of this, Ischinger suggested the seizure of currently frozen Russian assets held in European accounts, the establishment of a consortium of European arms manufacturers and initiatives designed to enhance the political decision-making capabilities of the European Union.
Criticizing the current discussions surrounding security guarantees for Ukraine, Ischinger dismissed the possibility of sending German ground troops to Ukraine following a potential ceasefire. He described these discussions as a “ghost debate” that only generates anxiety, arguing that Russia would never accept troops from NATO countries within Ukraine. He questioned which European nation would be willing to deploy soldiers under such circumstances.
