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Poland proposes defense loans to Ukraine amid tensions over MiG fighter jets

November 1, 2024

By Ukraine

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Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski stated that Poland can offer a loan for Ukraine if it wants to purchase its arms, following President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s remarks on Poland’s failure to deliver MiG fighter jets to Ukraine as previously agreed, Polsat reports.

Ukraine’s Air Force remains largely outgunned by Russian forces, with Ukraine lacking planes and missiles to counter Russian air attacks, including guided air bombs.

According to Sikorski, the government under Donald Tusk proposed a defense credit, allowing Ukraine to pay once the war is over.

“It could have been done from the start: here you go, buy weapons through credit from Polish factories, and when you recover, you’ll pay it back,” Sikorski explained.

When asked about Zelenskyy’s recent statement that “Poland found another reason not to provide MiG-29 aircraft,” Sikorski clarified that it was part of a broader, spontaneous comment on the war’s challenges.

“It’s not as if the president specifically attacked Poland,” claimed the official.

Sikorski responded by emphasizing that Poland has done “more than any other country,” noting, “Poland is on the front line of this war. We are the only EU and NATO country with both Russia and Ukraine as neighbors. Ukraine understands that we must also hold Putin back.”

The diplomat stressed that Poland has its own defense needs.

“As Polish government ministers, Deputy Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz and I must work to keep this war as far from our borders as possible,” he added.

Sikorski also acknowledged a recent appeal by members of the US House of Representatives to President Joe Biden, asking him to allow Poland to intercept Russian missiles over Ukraine.

“Poland will make this decision together with NATO,” he noted, adding, “No decision has been made yet.”

On Ukraine’s current struggles, Sikorski urged understanding for Zelenskyy, “who is going through a tough time.”

Earlier, Polish President Andrzej Duda said Poland was among the first and most generous supporters of Ukraine following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, providing rapid military assistance from its own stockpiles. However, these reserves have been largely depleted.

Poland unable to maintain previous levels of military aid to Ukraine, says Duda

“A responsible politician simply cannot transfer new weapons,” Duda explained, suggesting that Poland has reached the limits of what it can provide without compromising its security needs.

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