Sikorski: we are victims of largest hybrid attack in decades

Sikorski was asked at a rally if Poland needed a buffer zone along the border with Belarus. He replied that this was a question for the Interior Ministry and the Border Guard, adding, that "undoubtedly, we are the target of a hybrid operation".

"This is something that has changed in the last few months. Today, 90 percent of the people who injure our soldiers while trying to break through the Polish border are individuals with Russian visas. They have at least been encouraged, if not recruited, for this operation - so we know who is behind this operation, and we know its goal.

"The goal is to show all of Europe that the external border of the EU is not controlled. This aims to create a political effect - to strengthen the far-right, which promises to destroy the European Union from the inside," the minister said.

"We must not allow this," he stressed.

"We are the victims of the largest hybrid, or combined, attack against our country in decades. This is one of the fronts of this war. We have arson, cyberattacks, and spying," the MFA chief said, adding that the attack also involved innocent victims.

He mentioned that Belarus had gone as far as to abolish the visa requirement in order to encourage migrants "to try their luck".

"They are misled into thinking they can cross as they please. They cannot cross. We will show that the border is protected. We hope this will convince these people not to put themselves at risk," Sikorski added.

The minister was also asked about the chances of opening the border crossing with Belarus for Polish entrepreneurs. Prime Minister Donald Tusk mentioned two weeks ago that the government was considering opening the crossing in Bobrowniki.

"Now in Belarus, we are dealing with the greatest repression in the history of that regime. Unfortunately, I am very sorry because I too would like our entrepreneurs to be able to conduct normal business, but it is Lukashenko and Putin who are waging a hybrid war with Europe, not the other way around. It was Lukashenko who let Russian troops pass in the attack on Kyiv. We are not the aggressors," he said.

Asked if Poland maintained any diplomatic relations with Belarus, the minister replied: "Diplomatic relations exist, but we know what state they are in."