Closing summary
As we are closing the blog now, here is a summary of what we know so far:
Poland’s prime minister Donald Tusk condemned “an unprecedented act of sabotage aimed at the security of the Polish state and its citizens,” after two separate incidents were reported on a key railway line leading to Ukraine.
At a lunchtime press conference, interior minister Marcin Kierwiński spoke of “two acts of sabotage this weekend,” one confirmed, and one “highly likely”, affecting the same rail line (14:04).
No injuries were reported in either of the two incidents.
Both incidents were reported on a critical railway line used for carrying aid deliveries for Ukraine, used by up to 115 trains a day.
Poland’s security services minister Tomasz Siemoniak said the likelihood that the incidents were inspired by foreign intelligence services was deemed to be “very high” (14:12).
He later told reporters that certain parts of the investigation need to remain confidential, as “we are dealing with the [intelligence] services of a foreign state, and not a gang of scrap metal thieves” (14:43).
A meeting of the government’s national security committee is scheduled for Tuesday morning (16:12).
In other news,
EU defence commissioner Andrius Kubilius have warned that Russia could test Nato’s defences “during the next two or four years,” suggesting it could begin with an attack on a Baltic state (10:45).
Ukraine and France have signed a letter of intent for a deal including up to 100 Rafale warplanes, drones and ground-to-air systems for Kyiv during a much-advertised meeting between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Emmanuel Macron in Paris (11:05, 11:28, 13:27, 13:34, 13:43).
German chancellor Friedrich Merz has warned about “a deep rift” in Europe’s relations with the US, the growing threat from China and the rapidly progressing systemic challenges to the world order that required a united European response in a wide-ranging speech to an economic conference in Berlin (11:38).
EU countries should give Ukraine grants or take out loans to fund its defence, if they cannot agree on using Russia’s frozen assets, according to an options paper drawn up by the European Commission (15:46).
Germany’s finance minister is in Beijing today as tensions between China and Europe over supply of chips deepen (16:01).
And that’s all from me, Jakub Krupa, for today.
If you have any tips, comments or suggestions, email me at [email protected].
I am also on Bluesky at @jakubkrupa.bsky.social and on X at @jakubkrupa.
Updated
Poland to call volunteers from territorial army to help patrol tracks, key rail infrastructure
Poland will send its territorial army to help the country’s transport police patrol the most sensitive parts of critical rail infrastructure in eastern Poland, defence minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said.
The army, formed of trained volunteers, will be tasked with looking at bridges, viaducts, tunnels, stations, and other key elements of the infrastructure, he said.
The officers will also be given unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, and supported by a helicopter, he added.
