Poland remains firm, with Tusk stating that the country will not make concessions to Belarusian provocations and warning against subtle tactics from Russia, emphasizing the importance of border security.

Poland has responded to migration pressures by building a 400 km border wall equipped with advanced electronic systems, thermal cameras, sensors, and establishing a 200-meter exclusion zone to restrict civilian access.

European leaders, including Ursula von der Leyen and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, visited the Poland-Belarus border to address rising illegal migration and demonstrate Europe's solidarity and shared responsibility for border security.

This visit was part of a broader tour of EU countries bordering Russia and Belarus, aimed at responding to increased migration flows and hybrid threats orchestrated by Belarus and Russia, with Poland accusing Belarus of using hybrid warfare tactics.

During the visit to Krynki, the leaders discussed defense and security measures, inspecting border infrastructure and storage sites, amid concerns over hybrid actions and migration pressures.

Poland has reinforced its eastern border with a 5.5-meter-high steel fence covering 186 km, electronic surveillance over more than 200 km, and a 171-km electronic barrier along the Bug River in the Lublin region.

Ursula von der Leyen highlighted Poland's status as Europe's largest defense spender and emphasized the EU's commitment to increasing defense investments and military mobility funding, proposing a fivefold and tenfold boost respectively, and supporting joint armament purchases benefiting Poland and Ukraine.

The EU plans to allocate 800 billion euros until 2030 for defense, including significant funds for hybrid attack countermeasures and border security, reflecting Europe's strong determination to bolster its defense capabilities.

The EU's budget for border protection and migration management has tripled for the next seven years, with additional funds directed to countries bordering Belarus and Russia, in response to the recent surge in illegal crossings.

In recent weeks, illegal crossings at the Poland-Belarus border have surged, with over 550 cases detected in August and nearly 14,000 attempted crossings in the first half of the year, prompting increased security measures.

The visit and security measures are part of the EU's 'East Shield' initiative, which includes enhanced border systems and strategic planning to counter hybrid threats.

Leaders also inspected storage sites and discussed the EU’s SAFE program, which provides loans to strengthen Europe's defense capabilities, further illustrating the EU’s comprehensive approach to security.