Poland announced on Wednesday, September 20, that it is no longer supplying weapons to Kiev, a statement that underscores the escalating tensions between the two allies at a crucial moment in Kiev’s response to the Russian invasion.
In a surprising announcement on Wednesday, September 20, the Polish Prime Minister made a statement on television that no one expected on this matter. “We are no longer transferring any weapons to Ukraine,” said Mateusz Morawiecki, “we are first focusing on the modernization of our own army.”
However, Poland was one of the largest suppliers of arms to Ukraine. This radical change in direction appears to be a retaliatory measure, at a time when the grain issue is straining relations between Kiev and several European countries.
A brutal way to end the debates Poland, like other neighboring countries of Ukraine, refuses to see much cheaper wheat, corn, or rapeseed flood its market compared to its own produce. To protect its farmers, Brussels had banned the import of Ukrainian cereals into its territory.
But on Friday, September 15, the Commission lifted this ban. Capitals concerned were angry and decided to continue imposing a blockade on Ukrainian cereals. Kiev protested and retaliated on Monday by filing a complaint with the World Trade Organization. Tensions continued to escalate. On Tuesday, at the UN podium, Volodymyr Zelensky denounced “certain countries pretending to show solidarity with Ukraine.” Warsaw, feeling targeted, then threatened on Wednesday to expand the list of banned Ukrainian imports and urgently summoned the Ukrainian ambassador. This announcement about arms deliveries is a brutal way to end the discussions.
For the most powerful ground army in Europe Beyond these discussions, it is true that Poland is seeking to increase its defense capabilities. Since the beginning of the conflict, it has embarked on a rapid rearmament, primarily with the United States. Agreements are being signed one after the other, such as last week’s delivery of 486 Himars rocket launcher modules, estimated at $10 billion.
Warsaw is not hiding its goal to allocate 4% of its GDP to defense in order to have “the most powerful ground army in Europe within two years.” “We know that Kremlin leaders have decided to rebuild the Russian Empire,” says the Polish Minister of Defense. “We want to create an army that can genuinely deter the aggressor and play a leading role on the eastern flank of NATO.”
In the meantime, this change in stance on the issue of arms could weaken Ukraine in its fight against Russia.
