WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Defense officials in NATO member Poland on Monday presented a plan to strengthen anti-drone surveillance and on-ground military defense through a system of fortifications and barriers along about 700 kilometers (430 miles) of its eastern border with Russia and Russian ally Belarus.
The government says Poland, which supports neighboring Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s aggression, is being targeted by hostile actions from Russia and Belarus. They include cyberattacks, attempted arson and migrants being pushed illegally across the border, which officials describe as intended to destabilize the European Union, of which Poland is a member.
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Polish armed forces' Chief of Staff. Gen Wieslaw Kukula, right , and Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk, second right, speak about a program of strengthening the defense of NATO'S eastern flank in Warsaw, Poland, Monday, May, 27, 2024, during a presentation of a program to upgrade the security of Poland's border with Russia and Belarus, which is also European Union's eastern border. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
Polish armed forces' Chief of Staff. Gen Wieslaw Kukula, right , and Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk, second right, speak about a program of strengthening the defense of NATO'S eastern flank in Warsaw, Poland, Monday, May, 27, 2024, during a presentation of a program to upgrade the security of Poland's border with Russia and Belarus, which is also European Union's eastern border. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Defense officials in NATO member Poland on Monday presented a plan to strengthen anti-drone surveillance and on-ground military defense through a system of fortifications and barriers along about 700 kilometers (430 miles) of its eastern border with Russia and Russian ally Belarus.
From left, Poland's Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, Polish armed forces' Chief of Staff. Gen Wieslaw Kukula and Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk speak about a program of strengthening the defense of NATO'S eastern flank in Warsaw, Poland, Monday, May, 27, 2024, during a presentation of a program to upgrade the security of Poland's border with Russia and Belarus, which is also European Union's eastern border. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
Poland's Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz speaks about a program of strengthening the defense of NATO'S eastern flank in Warsaw, Poland, Monday, May, 27, 2024, during a presentation of a program to upgrade the security of Poland's border with Russia and Belarus, which is also European Union's eastern border. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
Polish armed forces' Chief of Staff. Gen Wieslaw Kukula, right , and Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk, second right, speak about a program of strengthening the defense of NATO'S eastern flank in Warsaw, Poland, Monday, May, 27, 2024, during a presentation of a program to upgrade the security of Poland's border with Russia and Belarus, which is also European Union's eastern border. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
Polish armed forces' Chief of Staff. Gen Wieslaw Kukula, right , and Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk, second right, speak about a program of strengthening the defense of NATO'S eastern flank in Warsaw, Poland, Monday, May, 27, 2024, during a presentation of a program to upgrade the security of Poland's border with Russia and Belarus, which is also European Union's eastern border. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
FILE - Members of a group of some 30 migrants seeking asylum look through the railings of a wall that Poland has built on its border with Belarus to stop massive migrant pressure, in Bialowieza, Poland, on May 28, 2023. Defense officials in NATO member Poland were presenting plans Monday, May 27, 2024, for fortifications and strengthening of its eastern border with Russia and Moscow ally Belarus. (AP Photo/Agnieszka Sadowska, File)
The government is also making preparations in the case of a military attack, while stressing the primary role of deterrence.
The government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk has planned a range of security measures including in cyberspace, as well as a more than $2.5 billion investment in strengthening surveillance, deterrence and defense along the eastern border, a system known as Shield-East that is to be completed in 2028. Work on it has started, officials said.
“The goal of the shield is to protect the territory of Poland, hamper the mobility of our adversary's troops while making such mobility easier for our own troops and to protect civilians,” Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said at a news conference, adding that local communities understand the need for such steps.
The shield will include “all kinds of fortifications, barriers, monitoring of the air space on every level and upgrading the existing systems,” and will be integrated with the defense system across the country, Kosiniak-Kamysz said.
He stressed it was the biggest program to strengthen NATO's eastern flank since 1945, when World War II ended.
Chief of Staff Gen. Wiesław Kukuła said it will include a network of state-of-the-art anti-drone monitoring and defense towers, anti-tank barriers and ditches, bunkers and shelters, as well as space for potential mine fields. He stressed their primary role is to deter any potential aggressor.
The officials said the system will be part of a regional defense infrastructure built jointly with the Baltic states — Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia — that are also on NATO's eastern flank. The funding will come from the government, as Poland spends over 4% of its GDP on defense, but help will also be sought from the EU because the system will also strengthen the eastern border of the 27-member bloc, they said.
Some observers noted that the much-publicized presentation came two weeks ahead of elections to the European Parliament, where Poland, a nation of some 38 million, holds 52 seats, and could be partly seen as a campaign element for the government that took office in December. The opposition also supports strengthening Poland’s defense.
Poland’s previous right-wing government built a $400 million wall on the border with Belarus to halt a massive inflow of migrants that began to be pushed from that direction in 2021. The current pro-EU government says that needs to be strengthened, but will be a separate project from Shield-East.
The three Baltic states were once part of the Soviet Union, while Poland was a satellite state before the 1990s. Moscow still regards the area as within its sphere of interest. To its east, Poland borders Russia's exclave of Kaliningrad, as well as NATO ally Lithiania, Moscow's ally Belarus, and Ukraine.
Poland's Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz speaks about a program of strengthening the defense of NATO'S eastern flank in Warsaw, Poland, Monday, May, 27, 2024, during a presentation of a program to upgrade the security of Poland's border with Russia and Belarus, which is also European Union's eastern border. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
From left, Poland's Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, Polish armed forces' Chief of Staff. Gen Wieslaw Kukula and Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk speak about a program of strengthening the defense of NATO'S eastern flank in Warsaw, Poland, Monday, May, 27, 2024, during a presentation of a program to upgrade the security of Poland's border with Russia and Belarus, which is also European Union's eastern border. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
Poland's Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz speaks about a program of strengthening the defense of NATO'S eastern flank in Warsaw, Poland, Monday, May, 27, 2024, during a presentation of a program to upgrade the security of Poland's border with Russia and Belarus, which is also European Union's eastern border. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
Polish armed forces' Chief of Staff. Gen Wieslaw Kukula, right , and Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk, second right, speak about a program of strengthening the defense of NATO'S eastern flank in Warsaw, Poland, Monday, May, 27, 2024, during a presentation of a program to upgrade the security of Poland's border with Russia and Belarus, which is also European Union's eastern border. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
Polish armed forces' Chief of Staff. Gen Wieslaw Kukula, right , and Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk, second right, speak about a program of strengthening the defense of NATO'S eastern flank in Warsaw, Poland, Monday, May, 27, 2024, during a presentation of a program to upgrade the security of Poland's border with Russia and Belarus, which is also European Union's eastern border. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
FILE - Members of a group of some 30 migrants seeking asylum look through the railings of a wall that Poland has built on its border with Belarus to stop massive migrant pressure, in Bialowieza, Poland, on May 28, 2023. Defense officials in NATO member Poland were presenting plans Monday, May 27, 2024, for fortifications and strengthening of its eastern border with Russia and Moscow ally Belarus. (AP Photo/Agnieszka Sadowska, File)
NEW YORK (AP) — Aryna Sabalenka left the U.S. Open in tears 12 months ago as the runner-up. She exited in the semifinals each of the two years before that. This time, Sabalenka was in a joking mood after winning her first championship at Flushing Meadows and the third Grand Slam title of her career.
Sabalenka, the No. 2 seed, got past No. 6 Jessica Pegula 7-5, 7-5 in a rollicking final under a closed retractable roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Saturday, adding this triumph to the two she earned at the Australian Open each of the past two seasons, also on hard courts.
“So many times, I thought I was so close to get a U.S. Open title. It’s been a dream of mine. Finally, I got this beautiful trophy. It means a lot,” said Sabalenka, a 26-year-old from Belarus, who is on a 12-match winning streak.
“I remember," she said, "all those tough losses in the past here.”
That includes in the semifinals in both 2021, against Leylah Fernandez, and 2022, against No. 1 Iga Swiatek.
Most poignant, of course, was last year, when Sabalenka was rattled by the Ashe crowd, blew a set advantage and was defeated by Coco Gauff. Like Gauff, Pegula is an American, but the spectators were far more generous toward Sabalenka on Saturday, applauding her best efforts and even obliging when she waved her arms to ask for extra noise.
Afterward, Sabalenka thanked the fans for cheering for her — which probably (wink, wink) was unrelated to her kidding offer of “Drinks on me” after an earlier victory.
Pegula, a native New Yorker whose parents own the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, was participating in a major final for the first time at age 30. She’s won 15 of her past 17 matches over the past month; both losses came against Sabalenka.
“I know how tough it is to lose in the final, but you’re showing some amazing tennis, and I’m more than sure that one day, you’re going to get one,” Sabalenka told Pegula during the on-court ceremony, then paused and added with a chuckle: “I mean, not (just) one. Maybe more. But let’s start from one Grand Slam.”
To Pegula's credit, she did not fold after Sabalenka reeled off five consecutive games to grab the opening set and move ahead 3-0 in the second. In the next game, Pegula dropped a point and showed her frustration by whacking a ball off the video wall behind the baseline, dislodging a little square panel.
Maybe that released some tension, because suddenly Pegula asserted herself, using her own five-game run to go up 5-3. But when she served at 5-4 with a chance to force a third set, Pegula let Sabalenka level the second with a break.
“Was able to find some good tennis, just wasn’t quite able to sustain it,” Pegula said. “She played some big tennis in big moments.”
Indeed, that began a three-game surge for Sabalenka, who soon was collapsing to the court, dropping her racket and covering her face with both arms.
“Everyone is like, ‘Congrats! Amazing tournament!’” Pegula said. “I’m like, ‘Eh, whatever.’”
Sabalenka is as demonstrative as anyone, her body language usually a spot-on barometer of whether things are going well — or not — for her. But as she sputtered at the start Saturday, it was tough to read what she was thinking against Pegula, who eliminated Swiatek in the quarterfinals.
Even while down an early break and being a point from trailing 3-1, Sabalenka reacted to mistakes by calmly turning her back and taking deep breathing as star athletes from other sports such as Stephen Curry, Lewis Hamilton and Noah Lyles looked on from the stands.
Once Sabalenka got going, once her booming strokes — her forehands were the fastest of the past two weeks, speedier than any woman’s or man’s — were calibrated just so, it became apparent the outcome would be determined by what she did.
By the close, the statistics made that obvious: Sabalenka finished with far more winners than Pegula, 40-17, and also more unforced errors, 34-22. Sabalenka controlled most exchanges, with Pegula mainly stuck responding as best she could.
“She’s super powerful. Goes for her shots. She’s definitely not going to give you anything,” Pegula said. “I was happy I was able to fight back and give myself a chance, but in the end it wasn’t enough.”
There was one moment of clear anger from Sabalenka. It came at 5-all in the first set, when she double-faulted to face a break point, then leaned forward and cracked her racket against the court four times while holding the handle with both fists.
Seemed to work. She saved that break point, wound up taking that game, then broke Pegula to own the opening set.
A year ago, Sabalenka blew that lead against Gauff. The year before, Sabalenka blew that lead against Swiatek.
Didn't let it happen again.
“In that second set, honestly, I was just praying there,” said Sabalenka, who collected a $3.6 million winner's check. “I was literally standing there and praying.”
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, records images after defeating Jessica Pegula, of the United States, in the women's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)
Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, left, and Jessica Pegula, of the United States, wait for the start of the trophy ceremony after Sabalenka defeated Pegula in the women's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)
Billie Jean King poses with Jessica Pegula, left, of the United States, and Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, following the women's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in New York. Sabalenka won the match (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, poses for photos with the championship trophy after defeating Jessica Pegula, of the United States, in the women's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, can't catch up with a shot from Jessica Pegula, of the United States, during the women's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, and Jessica Pegula, of the United States, wait for the start of the trophy ceremony after Sabalenka won the women's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, kisses the championship trophy after defeating Jessica Pegula, of the United States, in the women's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)
Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, reacts after defeating Jessica Pegula, of the United States, to win the women's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)
Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, reacts after defeating Jessica Pegula, of the United States, to win the women's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
CORRECTS SPELLING OF LAST NAME TO BLOOMBERG, NOT BLOOMBURG - Michael Bloomberg and partner Diana Taylor, left, watch the women's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships between Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, and Jessica Pegula, of the United States, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Tina Fey watches the women's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships between Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, and Jessica Pegula, of the United States, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Lewis Hamilton and Anna Wintour watch the women's singles final between Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, and Jessica Pegula, of the United States, of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, can't catch up with a shot from Jessica Pegula, of the United States, during the women's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, reacts after scoring a point against Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, during the women's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)
Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, reacts in the second set against Jessica Pegula, of the United States, during the women's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)
Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, kicks the ball after double faulting Jessica Pegula, of the United States, during the women's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Flavor Flav arrives for the women's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships between Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, and Jessica Pegula, of the United States, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Billie Jean King, center, her wife Ilana Kloss and USTA president Brian Hainline, arrives for the women's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships between Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, and Jessica Pegula, of the United States, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
CORRECTS SPELLING OF FIRST NAME TO STEPHEN, NOT SPETH, ADDS WIFE's NAME - Stephen Curry, center, and his wife Ayesha Curry arrive for the women's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships between Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, and Jessica Pegula, of the United States, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, cools off with an ice pack between games against Jessica Pegula, of the United States, during the women's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)
Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, reacts against Jessica Pegula, of the United States, during the women's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, returns a shot to Jessica Pegula, of the United States, during the women's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)
Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, returns a shot to Jessica Pegula, of the United States, during the women's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, reaches for a shot by Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, during the women's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, reacts in the first set against Jessica Pegula, of the United States, during the women's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, reacts in the second set against Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, during the women's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, reacts against Jessica Pegula, of the United States, during the women's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, reacts after scoring a point against Emma Navarro, of the United States, during the women's singles semifinals of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, reacts after defeating Karolina Muchova, of the Czech Republic, during the women's singles semifinals of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)
