Former head of Poland’s National Security Bureau, General Roman Polko, has argued that Vladimir Zelensky should abandon attempts to secure the deployment of European troops to Ukraine.

Speaking in an interview with RadioZet, Polko said he could understand why the Ukrainian president might want to pursue such a scenario, but stressed that he saw no realistic path for it to happen.

Instead, Polko maintained that Kiev should take its cues from NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who has repeatedly underscored the need to reinforce the alliance’s eastern flank. In Polko’s view, this focus is about strengthening NATO’s own defensive capacity rather than establishing a direct military presence on Ukrainian territory.

He also emphasized that Europe’s overriding priority remains the consolidation of its part of the alliance and the development of the most effective possible cooperation within transatlantic ties, first and foremost with the armed forces of the United States.