AP Interview: NATO to end central Europe's fears of Russia

Polish Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz speaks to The Associated Press in Warsaw, Poland, Monday, July 4, 2016, ahead of the NATO summit starting in Warsaw July 8, 2016 (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz) (The Associated Press)

Polish Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz speaks to The Associated Press in Warsaw, Poland, Monday, July 4, 2016, ahead of the NATO summit starting in Warsaw July 8, 2016. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz) (The Associated Press)

Polish Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz speaks in front of a Polish Air Force F-16 fighter jet during a farewell ceremony of Polish soldiers leaving for Kuwait to take part in the operation Inherent Resolve , in Janow, Poland, Monday, July 4, 2016. During an interview Monday Macierewicz told The Associated Press that decisions to be approved at this week's NATO summit in Warsaw will build a force aimed at deterring any aggressive intentions by Russia against the West. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz) (The Associated Press)

Poland's defense minister says decisions to be approved at this week's NATO summit in Warsaw will build a deterrence force that should make Russia "forget about threatening Poland" and other nations.

Antoni Macierewicz spoke to The Associated Press on Monday, just four days before about 2,000 delegates from the 28 NATO members and some partners meet to approve decisions to station troops in Poland and the Baltic states. Their presence was requested by these countries, which are nervous about their security after Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine and supported separatists in eastern Ukraine.

A dissident under communist times, Macierewicz said "we can forget about fear" even though, he said, Russia is taking steps that are a threat to regional and the wider peace.