On Monday, October 19, 2026, a meeting took place at the Sejm headquarters between Speaker of the Sejm Włodzimierz Czarzasty and Marcos Perestrello, President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. The main topic of the discussion was security in Europe, with particular emphasis on the situation on the Alliance's eastern flank and Poland's role within the structure. Participants also discussed defense spending, as well as the issues of solidarity and responsibility of member states in the face of a changing geopolitical situation and the Russian aggression against Ukraine.
Security and Stance towards Russia
During the conversation, Speaker Czarzasty referred to current events, calling Vladimir Putin a murderer and a bandit, which, in his opinion, explained his surprise at the varying opinions formulated in some European circles. Włodzimierz Czarzasty also expressed concern about the policy of the President of the United States, Donald Trump, pointing to his recent statements regarding Ukraine and the abandonment of some of the new sanctions and tariffs imposed on Russia. Nevertheless, the Speaker emphasized that Poland is aware of the key role of the United States in the NATO structure.
President Perestrello first thanked the Polish side for the uninterrupted support provided to Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian aggression. He reported that aggressive actions by Russia are being observed to be approaching the Polish borders. The representative of the Alliance's parliament also highlighted the importance of Polish experience in the context of defense against hybrid attacks, expressing hope for continued cooperation.
Poland's Contribution and Organizational Readiness
During the meeting, issues regarding investments in the defense sector were discussed. Marcos Perestrello stated that Poland plays a leading role in this area and that the investments made are essential for maintaining peace. Both sides shared a common vision of security and peace within the Euro-Atlantic structure. They also discussed the role of parliaments in shaping security policy, referring to the ongoing seminar of the Parliamentary Council Ukraine–NATO, hosted by the Polish Sejm.
A significant point of the discussion was Poland's declaration regarding its readiness to host the Permanent Committee of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. According to the communiqué, this session is to coincide with the 30th anniversary of Poland's membership in the Alliance. Perestrello expressed his appreciation for the organization of the mentioned seminar and for the Polish side's readiness to host key NATO parliamentary structures.