Poland's defense officials clash over Patriot missiles for Ukraine

Former Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak said the government’s plans to provide Ukraine with Patriot missiles were unacceptable.

"This is absolutely unacceptable. These missiles were purchased to defend Polish skies, Polish cities, and Polish families. Not so that Donald Tusk's government could give them away at the expense of our security," he wrote on X.

Commenting on the statement, Tomczyk said that only a madman could believe that sending two or three missiles would weaken Poland’s defense capabilities.

"If we really believe that Poland would somehow lose its capabilities by handing over two or three missiles to support the Ukrainian system, where everything that reaches Poland — and we know that this happens from time to time — first passes through Ukrainian territory and can be shot down there, then only a madman could come up with such arguments," he said.

The deputy defense minister stressed that no decision has yet been made on supplying missiles to Ukraine.

"And countries like Germany, which is often mentioned, are currently transferring several times more equipment to Ukraine than Poland," Tomczyk added.

Transfer of Patriot missiles to Ukraine

Poland recently pledged to consider further military aid to Ukraine, including the delivery of new missiles for Patriot air defense systems.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk made the statement following an incident involving a Russian missile that fell on Polish territory.

Although Tusk had previously said that Poland no longer planned to provide Ukraine with additional Patriot missiles because the country did not have sufficient stocks, Warsaw is now considering sending Ukraine another batch.

A decision is expected to be made in the coming days.