Poland marked the 105th anniversary of the Battle of Warsaw with a show of modern muscle—and a pointed message for Moscow. President Karol Nawrocki, a close ally of Donald Trump’s MAGA movement, told crowds in Warsaw that Russia “is not invincible,” citing historic defeats and its current struggles in Ukraine.
With global attention fixed on Alaska, where Trump and Vladimir Putin met to discuss the war, Nawrocki framed Poland as a front-line pillar of Western resolve. “For over three years Russia has been floundering after its attack on Ukraine thanks to the support of allies and the solidarity of free nations, including, and at times especially, Poland,” he said.
Relations between Warsaw and Moscow, already frigid since Russia’s 2022 invasion, have sunk further amid Polish claims of Russian sabotage, cyberattacks, and disinformation. Poland has responded by accelerating defense outlays, planning to hit 5% of GDP in 2026—among the highest in NATO.
Friday’s parade mixed history with hard power. About 4,000 Polish troops marched along the Vistula, joined by roughly 200 service members from NATO allies. Overhead, around 50 aircraft, including F-16s, roared past. On the ground, Leopard, K2, and Abrams tanks rolled beside Borsuk and Rosomak armored vehicles, with Patriot air defenses and HIMARS launchers on display. A separate naval parade featured roughly 20 vessels in the Baltic Sea.
Nawrocki also dialed into a Ukraine-focused call with European leaders and Trump earlier in the week. As Washington courts a ceasefire, Warsaw’s message was blunt: deterrence works best when backed by visible, sustained capability—and allies who keep showing up.
