France to guard NATO hub in Poland; Europe stiffens Russia stance

· Security · France · Poland

France will take charge of defending Poland's Rzeszow airport, the main hub for deliveries of Western aid to Ukraine, as part of a NATO mission from January, the French ambassador in Warsaw said on Friday. Separately, European nations said they want Russia to halt its war against Ukraine before entertaining any talk of the Kremlin's concerns about the continent's broader security architecture, a stance that risks putting them at odds with the US. The Kremlin accused Europe of struggling to decide who would represent it in future security talks.

Why it matters：Europe is hardening its posture and taking on more defence duties as US policy shifts after the midterms, shaping any eventual Ukraine settlement.

Key points

  • France will defend Rzeszow airport under a NATO mission from January.
  • Europe wants Russia to end the war before discussing its security concerns.
  • The Kremlin says Europe cannot decide who speaks for it.

Sources (original reporting)

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