Mariusz Błaszczak made the statement during a visit to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Błaszczak, who doubles as defence minister, was hosted by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and also met with Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov.
Zelensky thanked Błaszczak for his visit and for Poland's assistance to Ukraine, officials told reporters.
During the meeting with Reznikov, Błaszczak stressed the importance of Warsaw’s support for Kyiv as Ukraine battles the Russian invasion, the PAP news agency reported.
He said the government in Warsaw had provided Ukraine with USD 1.7 billion worth of military assistance, making Poland a leading supporter of Ukraine.
Błaszczak added: “Ukraine is fighting for its own freedom, but a free Ukraine means a free Poland. If Ukraine were conquered by Russia, this would mean a deadly threat to Poland.”
'The possibility of training Ukrainian troops in Poland'
He told reporters: “We want free Ukraine to be our neighbour, not Russia, and that’s why we are supporting Ukraine.”
Błaszczak said he had talked to Reznikov about “the possibility of training Ukrainian troops in Poland,” among other issues.
Earlier, Błaszczak visited the town of Irpin near Kyiv, where the invading Russian forces had committed atrocities against the civilian population.
He said afterwards: “Russia is always the same - they used to commit war crimes in the past and they are still doing it.”
Tuesday was day 139 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, belsat.eu