Poland has provided arms and other military equipment to Ukraine worth at least $1.7 billion, says President Andrzej Duda, who repeated his call for the country’s allies to help it make up the shortfall.
“We are giving Ukraine the greatest military aid we have ever provided to any country,” said Duda. “We are also the main [supplier of] heavy weapons to Ukraine. We are talking about hundreds of tanks, combat vehicles, artillery, as well as drones, anti-aircraft launchers, ammunition, spare parts and other equipment.”
“That is why we are now asking almost all our allies, especially the most serious ones, to send us equipment, not necessarily new equipment,” continued the president. “On the contrary, we have donated used equipment, so we are also able to accept used equipment as long as it replenishes, at least in part, what we have lost.”
Poland has given Ukraine over 200 T-72 tanks, 18 Krab self-propelled tracked gun-howitzers, and a large number of Piorun portable surface-to-air missiles, among other equipment.
“We estimate [we have given] at least $1.7 billion in the form of military aid alone,” said Duda. While Poland will seek to purchase some replacements, “we also expect to fill the gaps that have arisen in our resources within the framework of allied support mechanisms”.
Data gathered by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy for its “Ukraine Support Tracker” shows that Poland had committed to giving weapons and equipment of a higher value than any country other than the United States by 10 May.
In terms of all forms of aid (military, humanitarian and financial) in relation to population, Poland had given more than any country other than Estonia and Latvia.
Last month, Duda accused Germany of reneging on a promise to provide Poland with Leopard tanks to replace the T-72s it has given to Ukraine. Berlin, however, has argued that Warsaw is making unrealistic demands for the most modern Leopards.
The Polish government has also sought to step up military procurement, after passing a new Homeland Defence Act in March that increases the defence budget to 3% of GDP, one of the highest levels in NATO.
It has announced a number of arms purchase agreements with the US, including Patriot air defence systems, F-35 combat aircraft and 250 Abrams tanks. In April, the government accelerated the delivery of new British air-defence missiles and launchers.
Last week, Poland also announced a deal to sell additional Krab howitzers to Ukraine, in what is believed to be the country’s largest-ever arms export deal.
Main image credit: Grzegorz Jakubowski/KPRP
Alicja Ptak is senior editor at Notes from Poland and a multimedia journalist. She previously worked for Reuters.
