Poland has announced it will stop sending weapons to Ukraine in a dramatic move that is the latest development in an ongoing tussle between the two usually solid allies.
What exactly has Poland said?
On Wednesday, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said: “We are no longer transferring weapons to Ukraine, because we are now arming Poland with more modern weapons.”
The announcement came after Poland summoned the Ukrainian ambassador to protest remarks at the UN by President Volodymyr Zelensky, who earlier this week said some countries were only pretending to support his nation.
This sounds like a big development?
It’s huge. Poland has been one of Ukraine's staunchest supporters after Russia invaded in February 2022, and is one of Kyiv's main weapons suppliers, AFP reports.
Much of the weaponry that the US and other countries send to Ukraine passes through Poland, which borders Ukraine to the west.
What’s prompted it?
It’s all about grain, so here’s a bit of background…
Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine closed Black Sea shipping lanes used before the war, resulting in the EU becoming a major transit route and export destination for Ukrainian grain bound for Africa and the Middle East.
In May 2022, the EU dropped duties in the wake of the Russian invasion to help Kyiv maintain vital revenues.
Faced with a slump in prices on local markets and angry European farmers, Brussels in spring agreed to allow five countries to restrict imports of grain from Ukraine through September.
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The measures allowed the products to keep transiting through Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia, but stopped them from being sold on the local market.
The European Commission (EC) created the original agreement, which expired last week. The EC refrained from renewing it, citing the disappearance of “market distortions” and improved transport conditions.
This has angered farmers in neighboring countries, who now face stiff competition for their products from the vast volumes of Ukrainian grain which can now – according to the EC – be sold in their countries.
The import ban is particularly sensitive in Poland, where elections take place next month and the current populist right-wing government of the Law and Justice party has strong support in farming regions.
Hungary immediately announced it was going to close its border to 24 Ukrainian products, up from four previously. Poland’s populist right-wing government followed suit and extended an embargo on Ukrainian grain, as the issue is particularly sensitive ahead of next month’s elections.
How did Ukraine react to this?
Ukraine announced on Monday evening that it had filed lawsuits at the World Trade Organization (WTO) against its three neighboring countries, including Poland.
Zelensky’s subsequent comments at the UN further angered Poland resulting in the summoning of Ukraine’s ambassador in Warsaw and Morawiecki’s announcement to stop sending weapons.
What’s the situation now?
There’s currently a bit of a standoff – a Polish foreign ministry statement said that “putting pressure on Poland in multilateral forums or sending complaints to international courts are not appropriate methods to resolve differences between our countries.”
Kyiv responded by calling on Poland to “leave emotion aside” after it had summoned its ambassador, urging Warsaw to adopt a “constructive” approach in the dispute.
On Thursday morning, Poland said it will complete arms deliveries previously agreed with Kyiv.
"Poland will only carry out previously agreed deliveries of ammunition and armaments. Including those resulting from contracts signed with Ukraine," government spokesman Piotr Muller told the PAP agency.
Kyiv has said more talks will happen in "the coming days" but as things stand, until the two countries resolve the situation, no more Polish weaponry will be heading to Ukraine.
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Comments (7)
Some Putlers here are so happy.
It shows we need to stop this fight with Poland
Why it happened ? Why Mr. Zelensky need to be be so rude with Poland. We need to find a way of friendly settlement with a friend in need. Need to win the war. Why this fight with a friend. Why....why ?
I just hope this isn't the start of a breakdown in EU unity.
Apparently, warsaw got a call from moscow reminding them who their masters are.
ARTHUR TURNBULL Guest • 5 hours ago
"this combative attitude to Poland."
Let's see, my nation's president has a "combative attitude" because Poland has decided it is better an entire nation is wiped off the face of the earth INSTEAD of some Polish farmers losing some money for their grain, which has been proven not to be true.
Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski (ironically enough he is Polish) says “There is no destructive or negative impact of exports from Ukraine on EU markets.”
https://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/news/commission-refutes-eu-farmers-plight-over-influx-of-ukrainian-grain/
SIBI GEORGE Guest • 1 hour ago
"Now everyone began to remember the word 'ungrateful'.
"Ungrateful." Starting to read like what a russian would type. As in...you Ukrainians are "ungrateful" for all the pain suffering and misery we have given you.
@Joseph Swanson, Wind your neck in, read again what has been posted by everyone below and you might well realise that all the comments posted on here are Pro Ukrainian. All the comments are supportive of Ukraine and show a concern that the very valuable and close relationship between Ukraine and Poland, is being risked over a comparatively minor matter. To attack people here is to make the very same mistake that we are writing about. I can understand President Zelensky speaking out unwisely, he has been under a tremendous strain since February 2022, as would any person having to lead a nation fighting a heavily armed despot. I cannot understand your attitude in attacking people, who have been very good friends to Ukraine and will continue to be so. You are doing the work of the Kremlin and you need to get a better understanding of the realities of the world before attacking those that are your friends.
@Joseph Swanson, Wind your neck in, slowly and carefully read again what people have written below and you may realise that your comments are attacking those who support Ukraine. Ukraine and Poland have been very good friends throughout this war and Poland has not just been a very good supplier of weapons to Ukraine, but also a very good host to well over a million of your people. I can very well understand the tremendous strain that President Zelensky has been under, defending his nation while under attack from a significantly larger and murderous regime. This makes me understanding of his frustrations and the fact that he may not have carefully thought about his words, before speaking. I am less understanding of your words, attacking those that are supportive of your nation will not help your country, especially when those that you attack are your allies. When you write like this, you do the work of your enemy and I do not believe that this is your intention. Your enemy is Russia, not the citizens of NATO and beyond who are happy that their taxes go to support your nation. Slava Ukraini !
Sadly this is exactly what Russia has wanted. The EU and UN should have protected or put in place the necessary logistics for Ukrainian food products to get to the markets in need of them without unfairly penalizing its most impacted neighbouring countries. I empathize with farmers on both sides facing profitability issues because of Russia's invasion.
If I could say something directly to Poland's President Duda, I would say thank you so much for your country's support for Ukraine. Poland has been exceptional. You best know the importance of Ukraine succeeding in driving out Putins invaders. You know their fight is your fight. Thank you sincerely.
At the same time I want to thank President Zelensky for his extraordinary leadership in this dark period. Yes he is growingly frustrated, but what leader would not be if in his situation. I'd cut him a copious amount of slack given the pressures his country faces. Think of what they've lost. They continue to need and they deserve our full support. Its' for our own future benefit.
Please Poland and Ukraine step back from the animosity currently brewing between your nations. You are not each others enemies. Your enemy is putin's regime. There must be an acceptable solution to your current issue. We build credibility and open the path for solutions when we admit where we were wrong. Please look beyond your frustrations and work to find the solution. Allies win together or fail together. Their futures are linked.
As previous commentators. Dumping all Ukraine's grain inside EU will not solve anything. President Zelensky needs help by UN and EU to transport their grain in a safe way to markets/continents that is need of their commodity.
Just dumping the grain on the border will solve nothing.
As with natural gas supplies from Norway and US. EU established logistic solutions to bypass Russian gas. Ukraine needs help to secure this logistical solution for its grain. President Zelensky needs to calm down and stop pointing fingers at its biggest supporters. Its as Duda said, victim is trying to drown its lifesaver...
I have supported Ukraine from the very beginning of the second invasion in 2022. As a UK citizen I have kept pressure on my Government to send all the support that they can, I have fought Russians online, educated my fellow citizens, sent financial aid and done everything that I can think of to help Ukraine. I am hugely impressed by President Zelensky and think of him as the Winston Churchill of the 21st century, but . . . . . this combative attitude to Poland is self defeating and immensely stupid and needs to end, and end quickly.
@Arthur Turnbull, true. Aggressive attitude is good against an enemy, but not against a true friend. I believe this resulted from a false confidence, that they need to realize asap. Now everyone began to remember the word 'ungrateful'.