This follows reports by The New York Times that US Patriot anti-aircraft launchers stationed in Poland are to be sent to Ukraine. Tomczyk stressed that Poland had not agreed to the transfer of its own battery.
The New York Times reported that US President Joe Biden is expected to approve the transfer of another Patriot anti-aircraft system to Ukraine, which would come from the US military in Poland.
A battery of US Patriots is currently stationed in Poland, which, among other things, protects the logistical hub in Rzeszów, through which much of the equipment aid goes to Ukraine.
The report did not specify whether it is the entire battery (eight launchers with radars and other equipment) or only elements of it.
On Thursday, Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk tweeted that a battery from another part of the world will take the place of the US battery. He added that Poland has not agreed to the transfer of the Polish battery. "Polish Patriots are defending Polish skies and this will not change," he assured.
In recent months, the Ukrainian government has repeatedly appealed to Western partners to support the Ukrainian armed forces with more anti-aircraft systems—especially Patriot batteries—to provide protection for the Ukrainian army, cities, and infrastructure regularly attacked by Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in April that Ukraine needs at least seven additional Patriot batteries for effective air defense. So far, the US has sent one Patriot system to Ukraine. In recent weeks, the Netherlands and Germany, among others, have pledged to donate the systems.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced in April that there was no possibility that Poland would transfer a Patriot battery to Ukraine, saying that stems from the fact that Poland is only at the stage of deploying these systems to the armed forces. Warsaw’s first two batteries are expected to reach operational readiness by the end of this year.
The next six Patriots that the country ordered will start arriving in 2026.
(jh)
Source: IAR, PAP, AFP, The New York Times