POLAND: Belarus Border Opened & more – 25th Sep 2025

Witam from BA! This is the Rorshok Poland Update from the 25th of September twenty twenty-five. A quick summary of what's going down in Poland.

Let’s kick off with foreign affairs. On Thursday, the 18th, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Polish Deputy PM and Defence Minister, met with Denys Shmyhal, Ukrainian Defence Minister, in Kyiv to sign agreements on cooperation, drone training, and joint projects.

They also discussed NATO support and the military training at the NATO–Ukraine Centre in Bydgoszcz, in northern Poland. The two nations plan to hold more talks to expand cooperation, including training Polish soldiers on drones, following an incident two weeks ago when twenty-one Russian drones entered Polish airspace.

The Polish delegation also paid tribute to Ukrainian and Polish soldiers who died in World War II and in the current war in Ukraine. The main goal was to help Ukraine move closer to the West and resist Russian influence.

Speaking of Ukraine, on Monday, the 22nd, the 3rd Common Future Congress on Cooperation with Ukraine started in Poznań, in west-central Poland, bringing together over 800 participants from government, business, local authorities, and NGOs.

Paweł Kowal, head of the Council for Cooperation with Ukraine, said that they expect an intergovernmental agreement on major investments by the end of the year. He outlined Poland’s plan to help rebuild Ukraine, focusing on transport and communications, boosting exports, and investments, with concrete solutions already prepared.

Roman Shepeliak from the Ukrainian Embassy said Polish support is important as Ukraine integrates with the EU and offers technology, innovation, and skilled labor, while also providing favorable conditions for Polish investors, including tax and legal support.

On that note about cooperation with Ukraine, on Tuesday, the 23rd, Polish Railways signed a big agreement with Ukrainian Railways to keep trains running safely and smoothly across the Polish-Ukrainian border.

The deal covers everything from train schedules and infrastructure upkeep to technical rules and local cross-border arrangements for specific sections. Piotr Wyborski, the Polish Railways chief, said this isn’t just about business, it’s about stronger cooperation and future joint projects, especially for post-war rebuilding.

He added that smooth, secure train traffic helps the economy and even military mobility. This was the first international deal Polish Railways signed at this year’s fair, with more on the way, like a partnership with Lithuania’s rail operator LTG Infra.

On the next day, on Tuesday, the 23rd, Donald Tusk, the Prime Minister, announced that the border with Belarus, closed earlier this month, would reopen during the night between Wednesday the 24th, and Thursday, the 25th.

The government closed the border on the 11th of September as a precaution during Russian Zapad twenty twenty-five military exercises, affecting both road and rail crossings.

Tusk said the closure achieved its purpose and protected the interests of Polish transport companies, including PKP Cargo.

He also stressed that the government can close the border again if tensions rise or neighbouring countries act aggressively.

Since we mentioned military exercises, on Monday, the 22nd, Poland and Sweden kicked off their first-ever joint military drill, Gotland Sentry, a fast-paced, short-notice exercise to test how quickly both armies can react and work together in the Baltic region.

The drill follows a new defense deal the two countries signed in early September. It covers joint naval operations and cooperation on defense tech, plus moving troops by air, sea, and land while tightening up collective defense procedures and interoperability.

Short notice exercises are some of the toughest forms of training, with little preparation time, rapid dynamics, and a real test of combat readiness and flexible command.

More on security, as on Wednesday, the 24th, Poland’s Armament Agency and Military Communication Works signed a major contract for fifty-six Mobile Communication Nodes or MCC, which are a key part of the WISŁA air defense system, linking radars and missile launchers to protect Polish skies.

MCCs are essential for secure communication between WISŁA and other air defense layers, helping Polish forces coordinate quickly and efficiently.

The deal, worth two billion zloty, almost 600 million dollars, covers deliveries from twenty twenty-seven to twenty thirty and adds to the four MCC sets already ordered in twenty twenty-one. Being Polish-made, they also boost local production and cut reliance on U.S. components.

Switching gears to internal affairs. On Thursday, the 18th, things got tense between Poland’s Foreign Ministry, run by the Civic Coalition, and President Nawrocki’s team, backed by the Law and Justice Party, just before their trips to the UN General Assembly in New York.

The two sides even ended up traveling separately. The dispute started over Bogdan Klich, a Civic Platform member, being nominated as Poland’s ambassador to the US, which Nawrocki said he won’t approve.

Radosław Sikorski, the Foreign Minister, fired back on social media, saying the President has the right to approve or reject the appointment of an ambassador, but he won’t let politics interfere with the work of the government or diplomats. He also added that Nawrocki’s team publicly undermines Polish diplomats.

Since we mentioned President Nawrocki, on Monday, the 22nd, he joined events for the UN’s 80th anniversary, but attention quickly turned to a video showing his assistant handing him a white pouch, which the president put in his mouth, causing a social media stir.

Critics, including Krzysztof Brejza, a Polish Member of the European Parliament, called it inappropriate and asked the President’s Office for explanations. The footage reminded people of Nawrocki’s campaign, when he used something described as snus or nicotine gum. Staff later clarified it was a nicotine pouch, which is legal in Poland and contains no tobacco.

These pouches deliver nicotine under the upper lip without smoke. Jakub Nadstawny, the President’s assistant, explained he was just handing the pouch to Nawrocki and downplayed the fuss, confirming he’s simply the President’s aide.

On Sunday, the 21st, Karol Nawrocki and Marta Nawrocka, the First Lady, visited the National Shrine of Our Lady of Częstochowa in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. During the visit, he unveiled a plaque for Jan Olszewski, a former Prime Minister, and gave awards to leaders in the Polish-American community.

Nawrocki also announced a new Council for the Polish Diaspora and Poles Abroad to help resolve community issues, come up with legislative ideas, and make sure the diaspora’s voice is heard.

He spoke about the sanctuary’s spiritual, national, and personal importance, and reaffirmed Poland’s dedication to its history and shared values. Nawrocki called the diaspora Poland’s main ambassador in the US, highlighting the importance of independence, freedom, democracy, and free speech, and said strong Polish-American ties are crucial for Poland’s security.

Next up, on Wednesday, the 24th, drones repeatedly attacked the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza in international waters. Several Polish vessels were among the ships hit, including the one with MP Franciszek Sterczewski on board.

Sterczewski reported that nobody was hurt, even though three ships were damaged and a drone struck his ship’s mast with a stun bomb, causing minor damage. Sterczewski blamed Israel, saying that attacking Polish-flagged humanitarian ships breaks international law and violates Poland’s sovereignty.

He called on the government to step in diplomatically, legally, or even militarily if needed. Despite the attacks, activists from over forty countries are still sailing to Gaza.

Speaking of Gaza, on Friday, the nineteen sixty-threeth, a group of well-known Polish actors and musicians, including Maja Ostaszewska, Julia Kamińska, and Mateusz Janicki, launched a campaign to support humanitarian aid in Gaza and Ukraine. They wore T-shirts with slogans calling out Trump, Putin, and Netanyahu.

Ostaszewska, a famous Polish actress, urged people to speak up about the horrors of war and donate to help victims, supporting groups like the Polish Medical Mission in Gaza and Euromaidan Warsaw in Ukraine.

Krzysztof Zalewski, a Polish singer, also expressed his anger, condemning Israel, Hamas, and Russia, and encouraged everyone to do whatever they could to help bring peace.

The protests mirror worldwide criticism, with a UN report suggesting Israel’s actions in Gaza could be genocide.

Aaand that’s it for this week! Thank you for joining us!

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