Poland’s Prime Minister Morawiecki announced yesterday that Poland will end arms aid to Ukraine and will only deliver weapons that have already been agreed upon. According to President Duda, the Prime Minister has been misinterpreted.
– I don’t think that Poland will stop arms aid to Ukraine completely. This is the opinion of the foreign minister interviewed by Elina Valtonen (collect.).
Foreign Minister Valtonen said that he discussed with the Polish Foreign Minister today Zbigniew Raun with.
– In the end, he had a very understanding attitude towards Ukraine’s position in this situation. I believe that Poland will continue to be a strong supporter of Ukraine.
Foreign Minister Valtonen reminds that, in addition to arms aid and arms transit, Poland has taken in a significant number of Ukrainian refugees. He does not expect this line to change.
– Poland respects previous commitments. Nothing surprising and big has happened here.
Prime Minister of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki said last night that Poland is now arming itself instead of sending weapons to Ukraine. According to the announcement, Poland will now only handle the arms deliveries that have been agreed upon.
On the other hand, the President of Poland Andrzej Duda said later Thursday that Morawiecki’s comments had been misinterpreted.
– In my opinion, the prime minister meant that we will not deliver new weapons to Ukraine, which we are buying to modernize the Polish armed forces, Duda said, according to news agency AFP.
A grain dispute in the background
According to Elina Valtonen, it is unfortunate that the situation has become like this because of the disputes regarding grain transport. The relationship between Poland and Ukraine has been strained in recent months by Poland’s import ban on Ukrainian grain.
The grain dispute has escalated since Russia left the Black Sea Grain Agreement and alternative routes to the world market have had to be sought for Ukrainian grain. The routes therefore go largely through neighboring countries as land transport.
Parliamentary elections will be held in Poland in less than a month, and the grain dispute has become a significant election topic.
Foreign Minister Valtonen says he understands that Polish farmers are worried. Agriculture contributes seven percent of Poland’s gross domestic product.
– Poland is a democracy and of course elections have an impact. Agriculture has a significant constituency.
Also the Minister of Defense Antti Häkkänen (co.) according to the elections are the background of the hardened comments.
– Let’s find out what Poland’s statement is based on, that there really is such a policy.
Changed at 21:05 and added comments from Polish President Duda.