Poland unable to offer Patriot battery to Ukraine says PM
Donald Tusk, the prime minister, has said that Poland is unable to hand over a Patriot battery to Ukraine as it has not a spare system at its disposal but is ready to offer other weapons.
Asked by reporters if Poland was ready to join a new Nato initiative to deliver more weapons to Ukraine, even though there was now only Germany's declaration to offer Patriots, Tusk said that Poland was unable to send the air defence system but was ready to offer other equipment.
Germany is Ukraine's second-biggest donor of military aid after the United States and most recently pledged a U.S.-made Patriot air defence system and air defence missiles to Ukraine.
"As far as Patriot batteries are concerned, we do not have such a possibility because Poland is only a host country as the battery, which is stationed near Rzeszow, south-eastern Poland, has been at the disposal of the US," Donald Tusk said on Monday.
"But it has been protecting a hub in south-eastern Poland, which is of key importance for Ukraine," he added.
"Apart from Patriot batteries there are other weapons which help Ukraine defend its air space. And Poland will continue to be active in this sphere," the prime minister said, adding that he would not be speaking about details.
Tusk said that Poland's allies were aware of this and knew that Poland had already offered huge assistance to Ukraine, that it had given "much more than any other country even though it is a frontline state."
Having repeated that a safe and well-equipped Poland was important for Ukraine and Europe, the prime minister said that "not only Ukraine, but also Poland must be a bastion which is really ready to defend not only its own borders." (PAP)
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