On Monday, President Andrzej Duda and Poland’s Defence Minister, Mariusz Błaszczak, visited the headquarters of the 10th Armoured Brigade in Świętoszów, a town located in the southwestern region of Poland. While there, they observed Ukrainian tank crews training on Leopard tanks.
President Andrzej Duda of Poland has expressed his hope that Poland and a coalition of Ukraine-supporting states will donate enough Leopard tanks to form a complete armoured brigade for Ukraine’s armed forces. This would give them a major boost in capability and would help them in their fight against the Russian-backed separatists. Duda stated that this would be a great show of solidarity for Ukraine and Europe as a whole.
Poland has appealed to other members of NATO to help Ukraine in its fight against Russian forces. Poland has already provided Ukraine with a company of Leopard tanks and would like other NATO countries to follow suit by supplying additional Leopard tanks to the Ukrainian army.
Polish President Andrzej Duda announced that Ukrainian soldiers will be spending a month in Świętoszów for training. They will receive instruction from instructors from Canada and Norway, among others.
“We have organised training courses for Ukrainian tank crews to help Ukraine resist the Russian onslaught,” Duda said. He added that the Leopard tanks donated by Poland and other countries will hopefully form the nucleus of an armoured brigade for the Ukrainian army.
“I hope an armoured brigade will soon be at Ukraine’s disposal,”
Duda said.
Minister Błaszczak announced that a coalition of states, including Poland, has been formed and is ready to send Leopard tanks to Ukraine. He mentioned that the tanks donated by Canada have already arrived in Poland and that those from Norway are still to come.
Minister Błaszczak mentioned that discussions regarding the acquisition of Leopard tanks from Spain were in an advanced stage.