Mariusz Błaszczak made the statement in an interview with public broadcaster Polish Radio.
Asked when the Patriot system would arrive in Poland, Błaszczak replied: “within the next few days.”
Błaszczak, who is also a deputy prime minister, added that the German-supplied Patriot batteries would be stationed in Poland's eastern Lubelskie province.
He told Polish Radio: “They will be integrated into the Polish command system. It's the Polish commander who will be deciding when to use them.”
Patriots for Ukraine
Błaszczak went on to say: “I would like to stress that as a result of our agreement with Germany over the provision of the Patriot system, these weapons have also been promised to Ukraine.”
He added: “And this is a great victory for us, because it’s Ukraine that is being attacked by Russia. It’s Ukraine where people are dying, for instance recently in Dnipro, where an apartment block was razed to the ground. And so it’s Ukraine that needs such support.”
After a stray Ukrainian missile struck a village in southeastern Poland in November, killing two people, Germany offered to provide a Patriot air defence system to Poland, Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.
Poland initially called for the weapons to be sent to Ukraine instead before it eventually accepted Berlin’s offer.
Germany has since also offered to supply a Patriot system to Ukraine, in a joint announcement with the United States.
Tuesday is day 328 of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
pm/gs
Source: IAR, PAP, dorzeczy.pl