By TARYN PEDLER and MIRIAM KUEPPER and ELENA SALVONI and WILL STEWART

Published: 18:52 GMT, 13 March 2025 | Updated: 18:53 GMT, 13 March 2025

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Poland has requested Trump to give them nukes just days after issuing households with survival guides and warning that all men will undergo military training. Polish President Andrzej Duda called on the United States to transfer its nuclear weapons to Poland, urging an eastward 'shift of the NATO infrastructure' in an interview with the Financial Times on Thursday. Poland, a staunch ally of Ukraine, has been ramping up its defense as it aims to deter a potential threat from neighboring Russia.

Poland has requested Trump to give them nukes just days after issuing households with survival guides and warning that all men will undergo military training. Polish President Andrzej Duda called on the United States to transfer its nuclear weapons to Poland, urging an eastward ‘shift of the NATO infrastructure’ in an interview with the Financial Times on Thursday. Poland, a staunch ally of Ukraine, has been ramping up its defense as it aims to deter a potential threat from neighboring Russia.

'The borders of NATO moved east in 1999, so 26 years later there should also be a shift of the NATO infrastructure east. For me this is obvious,' Polish President Andrzej Duda was quoted as saying by the Financial Times. 'I think it's not only that the time has come, but that it would be safer if those weapons were already here,' he added. In April, Duda - a conservative ally of the right-wing Polish opposition - said his country was ready to host NATO's nuclear arms.

‘The borders of NATO moved east in 1999, so 26 years later there should also be a shift of the NATO infrastructure east. For me this is obvious,’ Polish President Andrzej Duda was quoted as saying by the Financial Times. ‘I think it’s not only that the time has come, but that it would be safer if those weapons were already here,’ he added. In April, Duda – a conservative ally of the right-wing Polish opposition – said his country was ready to host NATO’s nuclear arms.

Moscow in response warned it would take steps to 'ensure its security'. Duda said in Thursday's interview: 'Russia did not even hesitate when they were relocating their nuclear weapons into Belarus .' 'They didn't ask anyone's permission,' he told FT. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said earlier that Poland in arming itself must reach for the most modern options, 'also related to nuclear weapons'.

Moscow in response warned it would take steps to ‘ensure its security’. Duda said in Thursday’s interview: ‘Russia did not even hesitate when they were relocating their nuclear weapons into Belarus .’ ‘They didn’t ask anyone’s permission,’ he told FT. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said earlier that Poland in arming itself must reach for the most modern options, ‘also related to nuclear weapons’.

On Thursday he told reporters he appreciated 'President Duda's efforts' to strengthen the security of his country. He added, however, that it was 'preferable to deal with this type of issue discreetly and not through interviews with the press'. Poland's foreign ministry's spokesman told AFP Duda's comments had not been made in consultation with the government. Tusk last week hailed France 's offer to discuss extending its nuclear umbrella to other European nations as 'very promising'.

On Thursday he told reporters he appreciated ‘President Duda’s efforts’ to strengthen the security of his country. He added, however, that it was ‘preferable to deal with this type of issue discreetly and not through interviews with the press’. Poland’s foreign ministry’s spokesman told AFP Duda’s comments had not been made in consultation with the government. Tusk last week hailed France ‘s offer to discuss extending its nuclear umbrella to other European nations as ‘very promising’.

Poland is already far ahead of its allies in terms of military expenditure, aiming to allocate 4.7 percent of its output to defense spending. It comes after reports emerged that Poland will soon send out a guide for its citizens on how to survive future crises, amid rising tensions with Russia. The country, which borders both Ukraine and Russia, will be sending the pamphlets to households this year.

Poland is already far ahead of its allies in terms of military expenditure, aiming to allocate 4.7 percent of its output to defense spending. It comes after reports emerged that Poland will soon send out a guide for its citizens on how to survive future crises, amid rising tensions with Russia. The country, which borders both Ukraine and Russia, will be sending the pamphlets to households this year.

The booklets will inform them on 'how to deal with various hazardous situations,' a deputy director for the interior ministry's civil protection unit, Robert Klonowski, told the PAP news agency. Civilians will be given wartime tips on how to cope with 'a power outage lasting several days or several hours,' he said, adding that the information would also serve for reacting to natural disasters. The brochure will be issued in Polish, and in Ukrainian for the some 900,000 Ukrainian refugees in the country.

The booklets will inform them on ‘how to deal with various hazardous situations,’ a deputy director for the interior ministry’s civil protection unit, Robert Klonowski, told the PAP news agency. Civilians will be given wartime tips on how to cope with ‘a power outage lasting several days or several hours,’ he said, adding that the information would also serve for reacting to natural disasters. The brochure will be issued in Polish, and in Ukrainian for the some 900,000 Ukrainian refugees in the country.

'We are also planning a special version, or at least part of this guide, addressed to children,' Klonowski added. Sweden has already issued a similar information brochure, while Finland has a website gathering information on how ready civilians are for different emergencies. Tusk also revealed he was having serious discussions with France about falling under the protections of their nuclear umbrella to his parliament.

‘We are also planning a special version, or at least part of this guide, addressed to children,’ Klonowski added. Sweden has already issued a similar information brochure, while Finland has a website gathering information on how ready civilians are for different emergencies. Tusk also revealed he was having serious discussions with France about falling under the protections of their nuclear umbrella to his parliament.

During his announcement, Tusk emphasized the Eastern European country could not rely on conventional weaponry alone, noting that Ukraine had surrendered its nuclear ammunition to continue to be attacked by Russia. 'We must be aware that Poland must reach for the most modern capabilities also related to nuclear weapons and modern unconventional weapons ... this is a race for security, not for war,' he said. Last week, reports also highlighted that Poland could soon require every adult male to undergo large-scale military training as it aims to boost its reserve force amid mounting tensions with Russia.

During his announcement, Tusk emphasized the Eastern European country could not rely on conventional weaponry alone, noting that Ukraine had surrendered its nuclear ammunition to continue to be attacked by Russia. ‘We must be aware that Poland must reach for the most modern capabilities also related to nuclear weapons and modern unconventional weapons … this is a race for security, not for war,’ he said. Last week, reports also highlighted that Poland could soon require every adult male to undergo large-scale military training as it aims to boost its reserve force amid mounting tensions with Russia.

The Polish government is currently working to put a system in place for training all men for the event of a war, Tusk revealed Friday. Tusk told the country's Sejm - the lower house of parliament - that the military training would create a reserve force that is 'adequate to possible threats.' Officials aim to have a plan for the scheme, which would also be open to women volunteers, finalized by the end of the year.

The Polish government is currently working to put a system in place for training all men for the event of a war, Tusk revealed Friday. Tusk told the country’s Sejm – the lower house of parliament – that the military training would create a reserve force that is ‘adequate to possible threats.’ Officials aim to have a plan for the scheme, which would also be open to women volunteers, finalized by the end of the year.

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Poland asks Trump to give them nukes

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