Poland’s prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, recently announced that the country will no longer be exporting arms to Ukraine. This statement has raised questions about Poland’s role as a major supplier of military equipment and is seen as a potential move to exert pressure on Ukraine amid an escalating trade dispute between the two neighboring states. The prime minister’s comments came during an interview on Wednesday, where he stated that Poland is no longer sending weapons to Ukraine. This decision is likely influenced by the upcoming national election on October 15, where Morawiecki’s populist party faces pressure from the far-right party, Confederation. According to the AP, the Confederation party believes that Poland is not receiving the gratitude it deserves for arming Ukraine and accepting its refugees.
During an interview on Polsat, a private television broadcaster, Morawiecki further explained the decision, stating, “We are no longer transferring any weapons to Ukraine because now we will arm ourselves with the most modern weapons.” He expressed concerns about Russian aggression in the region, which has prompted a military modernization plan. A government spokesman also confirmed that Warsaw will not be providing additional military aid to Ukraine, only fulfilling previously agreed upon supplies of ammunition and armaments. The spokesman cited “absolutely unacceptable statements and diplomatic gestures” from the Ukrainian side as reasons for this stance. Poland has previously supplied Ukraine with various weaponry, including Leopard 2 tanks and Soviet-era MiG fighter jets.
However, Michal Baranowski, a leading security and defense expert, believes that Poland has already provided most of what it could offer earlier in the war. He does not see an immediate threat to Ukraine’s capabilities with the absence of major equipment shipments. Nevertheless, Baranowski views Morawiecki’s comments as troubling for Ukraine’s efforts to maintain support from Western countries in the face of Russia’s aggression. He stated, “The message is very bad, both for Poland’s reputation but also because Poland has been one of the chief advocates of military aid to Ukraine.” Baranowski also noted that Poland’s display of toughness towards Ukraine should be understood within the context of the upcoming election campaign, emphasizing that Poland has the capacity to both modernize its own military and assist Ukraine.
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