“I am not surprised that President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky is appealing for more help, because that is his role. But our role is to make decisions in the interests of the Polish state. And that is what we are doing today,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Head of the Ministry of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. He added that today we have donated everything we could have donated to Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Polish military aid to your country has recently decreased slightly. He recalled that Warsaw supported Ukraine from the first days of the full-scale war, but stressed that Poland still had aircraft that could strengthen its country’s defense.
Today, the Polish side’s attention to our defense capabilities has weakened somewhat. I mean, Poland probably gave us what it could. However, some things remained in Poland. (…) There are specific issues. We really need your MiGs – said Zelensky.
He added that the second issue Ukraine is discussing with the Polish authorities is the possibility of Poland shooting down Russian missiles and drones over the territory of Ukraine’s western oblasts.
We have spoken about this many times and it requires, as I understand it, the support of several countries. Poland, as I understand it, is hesitant about whether it will go it alone with this decision. – emphasized the president.
Deputy Prime Minister, Head of the Ministry of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, when asked about these words, admitted that he “understood President Zelensky”. However, he noted that when it comes to donations, Poland has provided enormous support to Ukraine.
The Polish government, both our government and the government of our predecessors, have made multibillion-dollar donations of equipment to Ukraine. That is all we have been able to convey. – he emphasized. But the security of the Polish state is always the highest imperative for me and all decisions we make in this matter are made through the prism of the security of the Polish state. – he added.
I know Ukraine needs many types of weapons, but Our partners in Ukraine must also understand that the Polish state must maintain its capabilities. And this is a priority for me as Minister of Defense. – said Kosiniak-Kamysz.
Referring to the possibility of Poland shooting down Russian missiles and drones over the territory of Ukraine’s western oblasts, the head of the Ministry of National Defense stressed that there is great skepticism in NATO countries on this issue. And no country will make such decisions individually. I have not seen any support in NATO for making this decision. – observed the Deputy Prime Minister.
I am not surprised that President Zelenskyy appeals in this regard, because this is his role. But our role is to make decisions in accordance with the interests of the Polish state. And this is what we are doing today. – said the head of the Ministry of National Defense.
The head of the Ministry of National Defense was also asked whether Poland would be willing to donate MiGs if new planes arrived, as Prime Minister Donald Tusk mentioned.
The minister said that possible decisions on the MiG-29s could be made after the Polish Air Force is reinforced with new aircraft – for example, F-35 fighters ordered from the US, the first of which will be transferred to the Polish army on Wednesday. However, the first F-35s are not expected to arrive in the country before 2026. Previous plans include, among others: training Polish pilots of these machines in the US.
Kosiniak-Kamysz noted that only after receiving the new planes will it be possible to dispose of old planes like the MiGi-29 in a different way, which are still used today, among others for missions to protect Polish airspace. Then we will make decisions – he added.
Today, we donated all the things we could have donated to Ukraine – he emphasized.
In July, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that Polish MiG-29s could be transferred to Ukraine if NATO allies were willing to replace them with other aircraft. “This cannot be to the detriment of Poland’s security. Unfortunately, after (the outbreak of war in) Ukraine, we are in the most demanding situation. That is why we are so careful in declaring what we are ready to do,” he explained.
