UPDATE: Polish defence minister discusses Ukraine aid on US visit

Poland's defence minister on Tuesday joined his NATO counterparts and officials from dozens of countries for an online meeting to discuss further support for Ukraine as it battles Russia's invasion.

Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak.

Photo: PAP/Leszek Szymański

Mariusz Błaszczak attended the meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group via video link during a visit to the United States, officials said.

While at the main base of the V Land Forces Corps at Fort Knox 🇺🇸 @VCorps, Minister @mblaszczak takes part in a meeting of the 🇺🇦 Defense Contact Group, established to support Ukraine defending itself against Russian aggression. https://t.co/azvEFpLO0L

— Poland MOD 🇵🇱 (@Poland_MOD) July 18, 2023

LIVE: @SecDef Lloyd J. Austin III provides opening remarks virtually at the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. https://t.co/tBSnoqOxiA

— Department of Defense 🇺🇸 (@DeptofDefense) July 18, 2023

Podczas pobytu w głównej bazie V Korpusu Sił Lądowych w Fort Knox 🇺🇸 @VCorps minister @mblaszczak uczestniczył w posiedzeniu 🇺🇦 Defence Contact Group, powołanej do wspierania Ukrainy broniącej się przed agresją rosyjską. pic.twitter.com/q4OrNITplJ

— Ministerstwo Obrony Narodowej 🇵🇱 (@MON_GOV_PL) July 18, 2023

At the Veterans Cemetery in Radcliff, Kentucky, the head of the 🇵🇱 Ministry of Defense @mblaszczak laid flowers in front of a memorial dedicated to the victims of the September 11, 2001 attack and 🇺🇸 soldiers who died fighting terrorism. https://t.co/D30lpPTbpv

— Poland MOD 🇵🇱 (@Poland_MOD) July 18, 2023

Later on Tuesday, the Polish defence minister will attend a ceremony in Fort Knox, Kentucky during which Polish general Maciej Jabłoński will replace countryman Adam Joks as deputy commander of the US Army V Corps, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.

We are so honored to host the Polish Minister of National Defense here at our headquarters in Fort Knox! Welcome to #Kentucky, @mblaszczak! pic.twitter.com/21NAeGFDHC

— V Corps (@VCorps) July 18, 2023

Maj. Gen. Maciej Jabłoński. Photo: PAP/Marcin Obara

Joks, a major general and the first Polish officer to be assigned to a US military outfit since the American Revolutionary War in the late 18th century, joined US Army V Corps in August 2021.

During a send-off ceremony in Poznań, western Poland, in the summer of 2021, Błaszczak said that Joks was "the first Polish man to assume such an elevated position in the US Army command since Polish American military heroes Tadeusz Kościuszko and Kazimierz Pułaski."

Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak (right) and Maj. Gen. Adam Joks during a send-off ceremony in Poznań, western Poland, in July 2021. Photo: PAP/Marek Zakrzewski

Joks will now return to Poland to continue service in the Polish Land Forces, according to the US Army.

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.

Tuesday is day 510 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

(gs)

Source: IAR, PAP, gov.pl, army.mil