2025 Warsaw Security Forum

The 2025 Warsaw Security Forum is the 12th edition of the forum, one of Europe’s leading security conferences, which has been held since 2014. The forum focuses on strengthening transatlantic cooperation and developing responses to shared threats. The 2025 meeting will take place on 29–30 September in Warsaw, the capital of Poland.

The event brought together over 2,500 senior participants from governments, international organizations, industry representatives, think tanks and civil society. It was announced that participants came from more than 90 countries. The program consists of high-level panel discussions, roundtable meetings conducted under the Chatham House Rule, numerous bilateral meetings, industry presentations and joint country cultural events.

Opening and Key Messages

The 2025 Warsaw Security Forum opened under the slogan “Divided We Fall”. In opening remarks, the need for unity in European security, Russia’s destabilizing activities in the region and the importance of air defense were emphasized.

During the first sessions, violations and hybrid threats carried out by Russia along Europe’s borders were highlighted. Examples included the intrusion of 19 Russian unmanned aerial vehicles into Polish airspace on 10 September 2025 and the violation of Estonian airspace by three Russian fighter jets.

At the opening, it was stressed that establishing a common and reliable air defense shield is essential. It was stated that Russia’s air attack capability must be constrained, as otherwise the war could not be sustained, making air security a top priority for Europe. It was also emphasized that the Baltic Sea has become a new arena for hybrid warfare and has gained strategic importance for European security.

Participants and Statements

Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in his speeches at the forum, placed special emphasis on Ukraine’s accession process to the European Union. Zelensky stated, “Ukraine must join the EU and will join it,” and affirmed that the Kyiv administration has fulfilled all its obligations. He also argued that Ukraine’s membership process must not be delayed due to the domestic political calculations of certain countries.

Zelensky proposed that Poland and other partners establish a joint air and missile defense shield with Ukraine. He noted that Ukraine already possesses the capacity to counter all unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles but that this capability could be made more effective through joint production and cooperation. He supported this proposal by quoting Polish writer Jerzy Giedroyc: “There can be no free Poland without a free Ukraine.”

Zelensky assessed the victory of the pro-European PAS party in Moldova’s parliamentary elections on 28 September 2025 as “a victory for Europe.” He stressed that Russia’s attempts to destabilize Moldova had failed and therefore called for continued support for Chișinău.

He also referred to allegations that Russia had violated the airspace of Poland, Estonia and Romania. He characterized these violations as Moscow’s attempts to test the boundaries of Europe. He stated that nearly all security threats in Europe stem from Russia’s destructive actions and that Putin has refused to end the war. He also called for the faster release of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine’s defense and reconstruction.

Poland

Poland’s official stance at the Warsaw Security Forum was presented by Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski. Prime Minister Tusk emphasized that the transatlantic community between Europe and the United States must be the top priority. Tusk said, “The United States has the right to expect more from Europe; similarly, Europe has the right to expect the United States to prioritize the transatlantic community.” He also stated that security is not guaranteed and therefore continuous effort is necessary. Expressing solidarity with Ukraine, Tusk declared, “This war is our war,” underscoring that European societies must approach the situation with shared responsibility.

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski stated that China is the only power capable of securing a ceasefire in the Ukraine war. He emphasized that Moscow has become dependent on Beijing and that Beijing must leverage this influence. He noted that Chinese officials have issued messages of support for a ceasefire but that these have not translated into concrete pressure.

Sikorski highlighted Poland’s significant investments in securing the eastern borders of the European Union and its contribution to the integrity of the Schengen Area. He stated that the newly constructed border security barrier achieves 98 percent effectiveness.

Poland’s statements pointed to Ukraine’s ability to push back Russia without a navy in the Black Sea as an example and drew attention to NATO’s superiority in land and air power. Sikorski stated that Russia has been unable to implement its “escalate to de-escalate” doctrine on the ground.

France and Europe

Assessments on Europe’s security vision were presented by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot at the forum. Barrot stated that the war in Ukraine has fundamentally changed Europe’s understanding of security and that the continent can no longer rely solely on external powers.

Barrot affirmed that Europe is ready to take responsibility for its own security. He noted steps taken to increase military spending and provide security guarantees to Ukraine. He emphasized that just five to ten years ago, it would have seemed unbelievable that Europe would spend 5 percent of its GDP on defense or offer military security guarantees to Ukraine, but today these are firmly on the agenda.

Barrot stated that the European Union must back its political unity with credible military capacity. He argued that Europe must become a deterrent power and develop the ability to respond decisively, collectively and preparedly to the threats it faces.

Barrot noted that Russia’s recent actions aimed to dissuade European countries from supporting Ukraine but that this had the opposite effect, strengthening European backing for Kyiv.

Taiwan

Taiwan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lin Chia-lung, also attended the Warsaw Security Forum. Lin emphasized that economic security cannot be separated from national security. In his speech, he described China, Russia, Iran and North Korea as an “axis of authoritarian regimes” and stated that this axis threatens the rules-based international order.

Lin stated that China played a decisive role in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and that the hybrid threats faced by Europe are similar to those experienced by Taiwan. These threats include cyberattacks and military exercises. He called on Europe to stand in solidarity with Taiwan, saying, “The time has come for Europe to stand with Taiwan.”

Lin also stressed the need to build closer economic ties between Taiwan and Europe through the semiconductor industry. He cited the investment by Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC in Germany as an example and stated that similar steps would contribute to Europe’s strategic reindustrialization.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to these remarks. The Beijing government accused Taiwan of exaggerating threats and creating