September 18, 2026
1. Tusk warns of possible Russian “hybrid” strikes on NATO territory
Prime Minister Donald Tusk says intelligence from NATO, Ukraine and the US indicates Russia may attempt drone or missile attacks against countries supporting Ukraine, potentially presenting them as accidental in order to test NATO solidarity. His warning came after another large Russian attack on western Ukraine on Thursday brought a jet-powered drone to within about four kilometres of the Polish border, prompting Poland to scramble aircraft, sound alerts in parts of the east and temporarily suspend operations at Rzeszów and Lublin airports. No violation of Polish airspace was recorded. Tusk is travelling to Kyiv for talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on drone defence and further measures against Russia.
2. Trump says permanent US Army base in Poland is moving closer
US President Donald Trump says progress has been made towards establishing a permanent US Army base in Poland, a longstanding Polish objective as Warsaw seeks a stronger American military presence on NATO’s eastern flank. Trump said an announcement on the location could come soon; President Karol Nawrocki welcomed the development and said Poland was ready to provide an appropriate site. American forces currently stationed in Poland operate largely on a rotational basis, so a permanent base would represent a significant change in the US military footprint.
3. Allegro raises outlook as Polish consumer business strengthens
Allegro has upgraded its 2026 forecasts after stronger growth in Poland, sending its shares to their highest level in almost five years. The e-commerce group now expects Polish gross merchandise value to rise by 11–13% this year and domestic adjusted EBITDA by 11–14%. The company cites stronger consumer demand, changes affecting low-value Chinese imports and expansion of services including its cooperation with PKO BP. Allegro is also negotiating an extension of its parcel-delivery agreement with InPost.
4. KO MP arrested by CBA. Central Anti-Corruption Bureau officers detained Civic Coalition MP Wojciech Król in Warsaw on Thursday evening on the orders of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, after the Sejm authorised his detention and temporary arrest.
5. Hołownia takes charge of Poland 2050 parliamentary club. Szymon Hołownia has returned to a frontline party role after MPs unanimously chose him to replace Paweł Śliz as head of the Poland 2050 parliamentary caucus. Śliz remains in its leadership as first deputy chairman.
6. Polish gas storage is almost full. Gas Storage Poland says its facilities were 98% full on 15 September and around 97% the following day, giving Poland a much stronger starting position for winter than much of Europe, although Polish presidential advisers warn that storage capacity remains small relative to national consumption.
7. Coal should be available this winter, but may cost more. Government ministries and energy analysts are playing down fears of physical coal shortages, saying domestic production and imports are increasing and the market is relatively stable. The less reassuring part is price: consumers should still expect upward pressure this heating season.
8. Core inflation reaches a one-year high. Polish core inflation excluding food and energy rose to 3.3% year on year in August, its highest level since mid-2025, according to NBP data. Transport and tourism costs are among the pressures keeping underlying inflation elevated.
9. Poland continues to lag in industrial robotisation. Polish factories installed almost 2,400 new industrial robots in 2025, up only 2% on the previous year. Worldwide installations increased by about 15%, according to International Federation of Robotics data reported by Rzeczpospolita, highlighting the widening automation gap.
10. Warsaw Science Festival opens today. The 30th edition of the Festiwal Nauki begins in Warsaw, running until 27 September. This year’s programme includes more than 400 public meetings, 635 school lessons, exhibitions and debates covering subjects including AI and work, social media and contemporary science.
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