The Polish Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, announced on Wednesday that Poland would no longer be sending weapons to Ukraine. This decision comes as Polish-Ukrainian relations have become increasingly strained due to a dispute over Ukrainian grain exports and their potential impact on Polish farmers.
The disagreement over Ukrainian grain escalated to the point where the Ukrainian ambassador to Warsaw was formally summoned to the Polish Foreign Ministry for an official reprimand. This rift has cast a shadow over the traditionally warm relations between the two neighboring nations.
Speaking on the private TV channel Polsat News, Prime Minister Morawiecki underscored Poland’s commitment to supporting Ukraine in its struggle against what he referred to as “Russian barbarism.” However, he emphasized that Poland could not allow Ukrainian grain imports to destabilize the Polish market.
Morawiecki stated, “Of course, we will continue to facilitate the transit of Ukrainian goods through Poland, which does not entail any costs for us. On the contrary, it could be argued that we benefit from it.” He also reassured that Poland would not jeopardize Ukraine’s security.
Addressing the military aspect of their partnership, Morawiecki pointed out that Poland’s military supply hub in Rzeszow, in cooperation with the United States and NATO, would continue to fulfill its crucial role in supporting Ukraine’s defense efforts.
Expressing regret over the actions of Ukrainian oligarchs, Morawiecki stated that they had flooded the Polish market with their grain without considering the adverse effects on Polish farmers. This influx of Ukrainian grain, he argued, had depressed prices in Poland, leading the government to implement price guarantees and eventually ban Ukrainian grain imports.
Rather than sending weapons to Ukraine, Morawiecki highlighted that Poland was now prioritizing its own defense with the acquisition of state-of-the-art weaponry. He asserted, “If you want to defend yourself, you have to have something to defend with. We adhere to that principle, which is why we have increased our orders for modern weapons.”
The decision to suspend weapons exports to Ukraine represents a significant shift in Poland’s approach to its neighboring nation, highlighting the complexities and challenges in their bilateral relationship.