Polish PM names number of Patriot missiles Poland transferred to Ukraine in spring

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said that Poland transferred five Patriot missiles to Ukraine in the spring.

Source: European Pravda, citing Polish internet portal Onet

Details: In recent days, Polish government representatives had avoided disclosing the exact number of missiles transferred. Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz only assured that the assistance did not affect the country's defence capabilities.

Polish Deputy Defence Minister Cezary Tomczyk had referred to "several" missiles, later noting that the number ranged "from three to nine". Ultimately, Prime Minister Tusk provided a precise figure.

"You have seen the storm this caused – completely unnecessary, frankly speaking, actually shocking – over our decision to transfer five Patriot missiles in full agreement with NATO and with the Americans, because we act jointly on this matter. These are not exclusively Polish ideas, this is a joint NATO effort," Tusk said.

He added that the government does not currently plan similar donations.

The Polish contribution was part of a broader initiative coordinated by Germany. In March, media reported that Berlin and European allies were organising the delivery of around 35 Patriot missiles to Ukraine. Poland supplied five missiles, as did Germany. In April, Ukraine's Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov publicly thanked Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Poland for the missiles provided.

In the coming years, the Polish Armed Forces are expected to receive more than 600 additional missiles of this type.

Background:

• Poland was recently shaken by a political scandal after Sejm Deputy Speaker and Confederation leader Krzysztof Bosak claimed that in March the government had secretly transferred expensive and hard-to-procure Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine without informing parliament.
• Against this backdrop, Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz disclosed data on military aid provided by Warsaw to Ukraine since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.

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