Poland debates who should pay for Starlink access used by Ukraine
Dispute erupts in Poland over paying for Starlink access for Ukraine (photo: Getty Images)
A dispute has erupted in Poland between anti-Ukrainian politician Sławomir Mentzen and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski over funding for Starlink satellite internet used by Ukrainian forces, according to their posts.
What Mentzen said
Recently, the leader of the political alliance Confederation, Sławomir Mentzen, who took part in the presidential elections and is known for his anti-Ukrainian statements, wrote that Ukraine must pay for Starlink on its own.
He emphasized that the money of Polish taxpayers should be spent exclusively on the needs of Poland.
"If Ukraine wants Starlink, let it pay for it. I see no reason why we should pay for it. The money of Polish taxpayers must be spent on the needs of Poles," Mentzen stated.
Sikorski's response
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski responded to Mentzen's words. According to him, helping Ukraine is a direct benefit for the Poles themselves.
"By helping Ukraine, we keep Putin's army away from our borders, which corresponds to the interests, including financial ones, of Polish taxpayers. Foreign policy is more complicated than the multiplication table," explained the head of the Polish Foreign Ministry.
What preceded
On August 25, Polish President Karol Nawrocki vetoed a bill that provided for the extension until March of next year of payments and free medical care for unemployed Ukrainians under temporary protection.
After that, Minister of Digitalization Krzysztof Gawkowski stated that due to this decision Poland would no longer be able to cover the operation of Starlink terminals provided to Ukraine.
The Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine reported that consultations with the Polish side regarding the financing of Starlink systems for Ukrainian needs are currently ongoing.
Later, the head of the Polish President's Chancellery, Zbigniew Bogucki, explained that access to Starlink for Ukraine would not be cut off.
According to him, internet costs are covered in accordance with current legislation, and even after the presidential veto, the situation remains unchanged.
He clarified that in September the Polish parliament is to adopt a new bill that will preserve this financing arrangement. Likewise, he added, support for storing data of Ukrainian state bodies in a secure location will continue.
