The NATO summit in Vilnius was yet another important step for the future of the Alliance and Euro-Atlantic security, following the 2022 meeting in Madrid. Its purpose was to demonstrate the durability of the transatlantic bond and the Allies' readiness to counter threats coming from all strategic directions, including, above all, Russia.

"Russia is definitely ceasing to be a NATO partner to any extent, for many years it was called a NATO partner, for many years there were allies who strongly opted to put this naming of Russia as a NATO partner in NATO documents"

- Polish President Andrzej Duda said after the NATO Summit in Vilnius.

"Today, there is no doubt, Russia is the aggressor, Russia is the greatest threat to NATO countries today, it is explicitly called so and explicitly said so, it is waging an aggressive war in Ukraine, this is also how it is called by the North Atlantic Alliance. It is estimated that if there was an attack on the Brest Gate, it would be reasonable to reckon that on our territory, approximately 100,000 Alliance troops would be deployed for immediate defense. These are the assumptions that are being made at the moment and that have been approved by the Alliance as part of its defense plans"

- he added.

At the press conference, the president underlined that Belarus is mentioned five times in the final communiqué, with special reference to the so-called Brest Gate, as an area of strategic and military threat that will be under special observation and surveillance of NATO. He noted that this applies also to the discussed issues of security and NATO's nuclear umbrella.

"There have to be arms depots in order to only relocate soldiers, so that the entire infrastructure does not have to be brought along with these soldiers, that this armament has to be accumulated. Such a decision has been made"

- the president said.

"If someone asks what for Poland?I always say that for Poland yes, but it's more for the eastern flank, because that's how NATO views it. It doesn't look at it individually, but with a certain defense doctrine. Within the framework of which, this very task will be carried out in our country as well, and we can safely say that this is our success. We have sought this and it is happening, it is approved. For the first time since the Cold War, the Alliance has created and approved defense plans"

- President Andrzej Duda said.

One of the main topics of the Summit, crucial also for Poland, was the adoption of a package of decisions on strengthening deterrence and defense. Support for Ukraine to repel aggression from Russia, further defense reform efforts and the realization of Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic aspirations were just as important topics. In addition, NATO heads of state and government adopted a new commitment to increase defense spending beyond 2024.

The president made a comment on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's decision to forward a request for Sweden's accession to NATO to Turkey's Grand National Assembly.

"It is impossible to accept Ukraine into the Alliance today on full terms, because if Ukraine were welcomed today on full terms, on full membership rights to the Alliance, it should be assumed that on the same day or the next day it would apply for Article 5, that is, for collective defense. The entry of Ukraine into the North Atlantic Alliance, in the hopefully near future, will certainly be a huge strengthening of the military, defense potential of our security community"

- said the President of the Republic of Poland, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

During the first day of the summit, the Polish delegation participated in three meetings of the North Atlantic Council, one at the level of NATO heads of state and government, the second at the level of defense ministers and the third, at the level of foreign ministers.The latter was held with the participation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia and Moldova, as well as EU representatives.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak, together with defense ministers of the coalition countries, signed a declaration on cooperation to prepare Ukrainian personnel for the use of F-16 aircraft.

"I would like to thank Denmark and the Netherlands for launching and coordinating this very important initiative. This is yet another proof of our determination to support Ukraine against Russia's brutal invasion. For my part, I pledge support by opening access to our training infrastructure and courses"

- the head of the Ministry of Defense said after signing the document.

The head of the Polish defense ministry also discussed security and increasing military interoperability with Allies. Minister M. Blaszczak and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin in the conversation touched on the challenges facing NATO and on supporting Ukraine. At the end of the first day of the meeting, at the Polish Embassy in Vilnius, the head of the Ministry of Defense met with soldiers of the Special Forces, who form the Polish contingent to strengthen the security of the NATO Summit. Their presence is an expression of NATO's solidarity and determination to ensure security.

On the second day of meetings, within the framework of the NATO Summit, there was another session of the North Atlantic Council at the level of NATO heads of state and government, with the participation of NATO partners of the Indo-Pacific region (Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea), as well as the inaugural meeting of the newly established NATO-Ukraine Council. During this meeting, a package to strengthen political cooperation and practical support for Ukraine was adopted.

The Polish President and the Minister of National Defense have also met with the President of the United States. Among the topics of the conversation were issues related to the security of NATO's eastern flank and support for embattled Ukraine.

While in Vilnius, Minister Mariusz Blaszczak additionally held talks with the Latvian Defense Minister. The talks concerned the security situation in the region, including the war in Ukraine, and bilateral and multinational military cooperation. The head of the Ministry of Defense attended a bilateral meeting of the presidents of Poland and Finland, where they discussed strengthening the Alliance and the policy of deterrence, which is the essence of NATO.