The government, through the Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, speaks of plans to transfer MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine. Did the president know about this before the information reached the media? “There must have been some misunderstanding here, I had no such information”, Karol Nawrocki said today.
On Wednesday – during a press conference – the Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz was asked about reports regarding the planned transfer to Ukraine of the MiG-29 fighter jets still in service with the Polish Air Force.
The minister announced that Poland “will seek to transfer” the aircraft to Ukraine.
“That is our intention”, he said.
“No such information reached me”
That same day, a statement emerged from President Nawrocki’s circle indicating that the head of the Polish state had no knowledge whatsoever of any plans to transfer fighter jets to Ukraine. This is despite the fact that – as is widely known – the president is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and therefore should be informed of such intentions.
Today, the president himself was asked about the matter during a press conference in Riga – after his meeting with the President of Latvia. “There must have been some misunderstanding here, I had no such information. I confirmed this again today at the National Security Bureau (BBN). No such information reached me, but I am confident that Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz and I will clarify the matter and reach an understanding. But here my staff were right – I did not receive any official information about actions of this kind or about transferring the MiGs to Ukraine” – said Karol Nawrocki.
The president then referred to the remarks of Prof. Sławomir Cenckiewicz, head of the National Security Bureau (BBN), concerning the need to “reinstate” compulsory military service. “As for military service, today we have voluntary basic service, and according to the analyses and statistics I know, we do not currently have a major problem with the number of volunteers for the Polish Army. There are many willing Polish patriots who want to undergo military training in this voluntary basic service format. I encourage all Poles to join the voluntary basic service. I know that our neighbours follow various models” – the head of the Polish state said.
President Nawrocki continued: “Of course, one should not rule out – and in this context I interpret Professor Cenckiewicz’s words – one should not rule out the situation he described. Today, as long as there are many volunteers ready to undergo training in voluntary basic service or to serve in the Territorial Defence Forces, we are fulfilling our duties as the Polish state. So I certainly would not rule this out; I do not know what the coming years will bring, but as of today I believe that voluntary basic service and the Territorial Defence Forces will cover this scope of responsibilities”.