Poland sent five Patriot missiles to Ukraine after securing NATO assurances
Polish National Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz (photo: Getty Images)
The package includes five PAC-3 MSE interceptor missiles for Patriot air defense systems, according to Defence24.
The decision to transfer the missiles to Ukraine was made at the request of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Commander of United States European Command, General Alexus Grynkewich, following consultations with the user group.
Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz announced this.
He stressed that the number of missiles transferred represents the limit of capabilities of the country and does not undermine the air defense preparedness of Poland.
NATO-US security guarantees
Later that evening, Polish Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk confirmed in an interview with TVN24 that the transfer involved several missiles.
According to him, the process was carried out in full coordination with the United States and the NATO Secretary General.
He added that Warsaw has also secured compensation guarantees in the event that Poland itself comes under threat.
"We also agreed with the NATO Secretary General and the American side that the transfer of these few missiles would be tied to something else—if Poland faces a threat, we will receive ten times as many missiles and systems of this type within the first 24 hours after that threat emerges," Tomczyk said.
The transfer of Patriot missiles has sparked a political controversy in Poland, with Deputy Speaker of the Sejm Krzysztof Bosak claiming the government carried out the operation without informing parliament.
Responding to the criticism, Defense Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz strongly defended the decision, saying: "I would rather our Patriot systems intercept Russian missiles over Kyiv than over Warsaw."
