Poland may change its method of providing military aid to Ukraine
Radosław Sikorski, Head of the Polish Foreign Ministry (photo: Getty Images)
Warsaw is initiating a program that would allow Ukraine to purchase weapons from Polish manufacturers through a credit system. This plan involves settling payments for the products after Ukraine's victory in the war against Russia and during the post-war reconstruction phase, states Radosław Sikorski, Head of the Polish Foreign Ministry.
According to the head of the Polish Foreign Ministry, this initiative was introduced to Parliament by Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
In a conversation with journalists about assistance to Ukraine, Sikorski emphasized that the government proposed a defense credit."
"This could have been done from the very beginning: please, buy from Polish factories on credit, and when you rebuild, you can pay it back," the Polish Foreign Minister explained this idea.
Poland's aid for Ukraine
Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, Poland has been providing military assistance to Ukraine, including various weapons such as armored vehicles, military aircraft, and helicopters, as well as humanitarian and political support.
According to Polish President Andrzej Duda during a visit to Kyiv in August, the total value of assistance to Ukraine amounts to 3.3% of Poland's GDP, approximately 100 billion zlotys (about 25 billion dollars).
The Polish leader noted that the country has provided Ukraine with nearly 400 tanks, including T-72s, PT-91 Twardys, and Leopards. In total, over a thousand units of heavy equipment have been supplied to Ukrainian defenders. Additionally, Poland has provided Rosomak-wheeled armored personnel carriers, Krab howitzers, and 10 MiG-29 fighters, along with 10 helicopters.
Additionally, Sikorski previously responded to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's recent statement regarding Poland's transfer of MiG-29 fighters for the needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces as part of defense assistance, clarifying that Warsaw is currently not supplying such aircraft to Kyiv.
In particular, the Polish Foreign Minister emphasized that Poland has provided more support to Ukraine relative to its GDP than any other country.
