Polish President Andrzej Duda pledged this month that Poland would send a company of German-made Leopard tanks to help Ukraine fight Russia.
Polish Prime Minister Morawiecki said in an interview with Canadian television on Thursday that Poland would send an additional 60 battle tanks to Ukraine, on top of the 14 German-made Leopards it had already promised.
Ukraine's Zelensky on Friday took to Twitter to thank the Polish president and prime minister as well as Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak and Jacek Siewiera, head of the Polish president's National Security Bureau (BBN), "and the people of Poland," for "those important decisions to transfer 60 Polish tanks to Ukraine, including 30 PT-91 Twardy tanks, and 14 Leopard 2 tanks."
"Like 160 years ago, we are together, but this time the enemy doesn't stand a chance," Zelensky tweeted, referring to Poland's 1863 January Uprising, in which Poles fought shoulder to shoulder with Ukrainians against Russian rule, according to officials.
"Together we will win," Zelensky also said in Polish.
Poland's Morawiecki replied on Twitter: "We were, we are and we will be together. In 160 years, our nations will remember this war, a victorious one this time. This is not the end of Polish aid to Ukraine. Our support can only end with one thing: victory."
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Twitter that Poland "will hand over 60 tanks" to his country.
"The famous Leopard-2 and PT-91 Twardy will strengthen Ukraine's armed forces," Shmyhal tweeted.
"I'm grateful to Mateusz Morawiecki and all the Polish people for their strong support for Ukraine on the way to victory," he added.
Poland's Morawiecki told Canadian broadcaster CTV News on Thursday that "Poland sent 250 tanks as the first country half a year ago or even more than that."
He added: "Right now, we are ready to send 60 of our modernized tanks, 30 of them PT-91, and on top of those tanks, 14 tanks, Leopard 2 tanks, in our possession."
Polish Deputy Defence Minister Marcin Ociepa told private broadcaster RMF FM on Friday that it could take around three months before Leopard tanks reach Ukraine, the Reuters news agency reported.
"It depends what country we are talking about, but I would estimate that we are talking about around a quarter ... until those tanks can really be on Ukrainian territory and go into battle," Ociepa said.
Wiceminister Marcin Ociepa. Photo: Polish Radio/PR24
Friday was day 338 of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
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Source: IAR, PAP, Reuters, ukrinform.net