Poland pledges more jets for Ukraine after Zelenskyy’s visit

Europe, News April 7, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Poland on a rare foreign trip on April 5, 2023. He met with his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda in Warsaw to strengthen military ties with the neighboring country.

Zelenskyy thanked Warsaw for its support to Kyiv against the Russian invasion. Poland has been a key ally supporting Ukraine and it is usually at the forefront of pushing other European countries to provide weapons and military support to Ukraine.

Apart from providing crucial military and intelligence support, Poland became the first NATO member state and the first European country to send Soviet-made MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine. In the first phase of delivery, Poland sent 13 MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine.

Poland’s President Andrzej Duda said he would send Poland’s remaining fleet of MiG-29 jets “if there is still such a need”. Poland was also the first country to pledge to send Leopard-2 tanks to Ukraine. As soon as Germany allowed European states to send German-made tanks to Ukraine, Poland announced the delivery of the tanks.

President of Poland Duda expressed pride in welcoming Zelenskyy to the Polish capital and told the Ukrainian president that “You can always count on Poland”. While addressing the crowd of people, Duda said that he was thankful to the Polish people for showing solidarity with the Ukrainian people who sought refuge in Poland.

We showed that Solidarity is not just an illustrious past, but that Solidarity lives in us. Today we are just as proud of the second great wave of solidarity. Solidarity with Ukraine and its people!

Address by the President at the Royal Castle in Warsaw: https://t.co/4A97d6DPD8 pic.twitter.com/2GlxVUPBXl
— Kancelaria Prezydenta (@prezydentpl) April 6, 2023

During his meeting with the Zelenskyy, President Duda reiterated his firm support for Kyiv’s accession to the NATO alliance, stating that it would allow “additional guarantees, security guarantees, which will strengthen Ukraine’s military potential”.

Ukraine’s Zelenskyy also met with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and signed agreements on developing Ukraine’s infrastructure and allowing hundreds of Polish companies to invest in Ukraine.

Zelenskyy’s visit to Warsaw comes at a time when President Duda’s administration is facing a wave of protests from local farmers. Poland’s Agriculture Minister Henry Kowalczyk resigned amid rising anger among local farmers due to the impact of cheap Ukrainian grain imports on prices. Farmers in Poland have argued Ukraine’s grain is reducing the market price of Polish grain in the local market.

Zelensky addressed Poland’s grain issue during his visit stating that he is working in coordination with the Polish counterpart to find a solution. He stated that “We have found a way out,” he said.

*^{President Zelenskyy and the First Lady of Ukraine with Poland’s President Andrzej Duda and the First Lady of Poland in Warsaw, on April 6, 2023. (Image Credit: Twitter/Marek Borawski/KPRP)}*

The Ukrainian President added that “I believe that in the coming days and weeks, we will finally resolve all issues as there cannot be any questions, any complications between such close partners and real friends as Poland and Ukraine.”

Although NATO Allies have increased support for Ukraine, upon being asked about Ukraine’s bid to join the alliance, NATO’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that in order to join the alliance, a country must be independent and democratic, two criteria currently unable to be fulfilled by Ukraine as a result of Russia’s invasion.

Separately, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Western intelligence of plotting terrorist attacks in Russia. While speaking at the Kremlin’s Security Council meeting, Putin said that “There is every reason to say that the resources of third countries, Western intelligence services, are engaged in the preparation of such sabotage and acts of terrorism.” His comments came in reference to a blast in St. Petersburg, that resulted in the death of a pro-Russian military blogger Vladlen Tatarsky.