Poland may have secretly sent Patriot missiles to Ukraine, top official says
Patriot air defense missile system launchers (photo: Getty Images)
A dispute has erupted over missiles that Poland considers part of its own air defense shield. Parliament may not have been informed about a key decision, according to Polish Sejm Deputy Speaker Krzysztof Bosak.
He states the Polish government may have transferred Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine. He claimed that members of the Sejm did not approve such a decision.
The politician stressed that Poland needs the missiles for its own air defense. In particular, they could be used to intercept Russian Iskander ballistic missiles that Russia could potentially launch from the Kaliningrad region.
Bosak said that any transfer of the weapons would be a scandal if the reports are confirmed. He also proposed passing legislation that would prohibit the transfer of Polish military equipment abroad without parliamentary approval.
The Polish government has not publicly commented on the deputy speaker's remarks or confirmed that Patriot missiles were transferred to Ukraine.
Earlier, ahead of the NATO summit, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk urged the country's delegation, led by President Karol Nawrocki, not to take on any new financial commitments to Ukraine.
He explained that Warsaw is already spending substantial sums on defense and on protecting the EU's eastern border.
