On Tuesday, November 15, in Brussels, Mariusz Błaszczak, Deputy Prime Minister and head of the Ministry of National Defense, attended a meeting of European Union defense ministers chaired by Josep Borrell, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

During the meeting, the ministers discussed security issues in the region, with particular emphasis on the support for Ukraine in her defense against unprovoked Russian aggression. They also talked about EU member states’ cooperation in replenishing their defense capabilities.

The heads of the defense ministries of the EU countries announced the commencement of the EU Military Assistance Mission (EU MAM), which is aimed at training Ukrainians and will be carried out on the territory of the EU countries. Poland, assuring a wide range of training, is to provide a key contribution to this mission. The European Union operational level command, the so-called Combined Arms Training Command, led by Polish Major General Piotr Trytek, will also be established in Poland.

- The second session of the meeting was devoted to joint military equipment purchases. Arguably, donations to Ukraine caused a very urgent need to replenish these resources throughout the European Union. After all, all European Union countries, with greater or lesser involvement, have supported Ukraine. Poland is one of these countries who have been  most significantly aiding our neighbors from the very beginning

– Deputy Prime Minister M. Błaszczak said.

- Therefore, we decided to sign a contract with South Korea. This year, the first Korean tanks and howitzers will be delivered to Poland. I suggested for our military equipment's orders not to be confined to European industry only. Why? Because the production capacity of European industry is limited and it would require a significant amount of time to recreate European military capacity - when the need is urgent. Thus, in my view , which I shared in my speech, having European industry competing with US or South Korean industry would be counter-productive.

– stressed Deputy Prime Minister, the head of the Ministry of National Defence.

The third session of the European Union defense ministers’ meeting concerned the current situation in Ukraine.

- While we were speaking with Minister Reznikov, Ukraine experienced yet another air raid, another bombing. We talked about the necessity of support for Ukraine - so that Russia does not achieve its goal. And Russia's goal is to cause another humanitarian crisis by attacking critical infrastructure, power plants, and water intakes, thus triggering a wave of migration from Ukraine. It is clear, both to Minister Reznikov and everyone gathered today, that provoking another humanitarian crisis  is precisely Russia's goal. I wish to strongly emphasize the unified response from all European Union defense ministers. Tomorrow, in the format of the North Atlantic Alliance, and even wider, we will talk about further supporting Ukraine.

– he pointed out.

- I drew attention to the attitude of Belarus.  Exactly one year has passed since the outbreak of the Polish-Belarusian border crisis. These were Polish officers and soldiers who protected the state’s border, thus protecting the European Union border. Personally, I have no doubt that this hybrid attack, carried out by the Lukashenka regime last autumn, was a prelude to the attack on Ukraine. And that was the assessment I offered.

– said the head of the Ministry of National Defence.

- It was Lukashenka’s intention, or rather Kremlin’s, since it undoubtedly was the place where this whole scenario was planned and coordinated from, to paralyze Poland in order to deprive us the possibility to support Ukraine. Today, Poland is a country that assured aid flows to Ukraine. I have to admit that all ministers gathered here agreed on the importance of need to continue support for Ukraine

- stressed Deputy Prime Minister.