Poland will support Ukraine on a permanent basis and strengthen its own defence capabilities
30.08.2022
“At the meeting of the defence ministers of the European Union countries, we discussed the security issues and consequences of the Russian attack on Ukraine. These are the security implications around the world. Our talks also focused on issues related to the use of EU funds to increase industrial and armaments production” - said Deputy Prime Minister Mariusz Błaszczak after the meeting of EU chiefs of defence.
On August the 30th , the head of the Ministry of National Defence in Prague took part in the session chaired by J. Borrell, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Representatives of the United Nations and NATO were also present. The talks focused on the security situation in the region, with particular emphasis on support for Ukraine, which is defending itself against unprovoked Russian aggression, as well as cooperation between member states in supplementing their own defence capabilities.
“Among the defence ministers of the EU countries, we talked about the gaps in the defence capabilities of our countries. Projects by which these gaps will be filled were also a topic. I was talking about the diversification of energy resources to our part of Europe and about carrying out such an investment in coordination with NATO. There is also a fund outside the EU budget - the European peace facility, but it is too modest, so my postulate was to increase this fund and use the principle of solidarity between EU countries to restore the storage of military equipment”
- emphasized the head of the Ministry of National Defence.
At the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister M. Błaszczak presented information on Polish support for Ukraine.
“We talked about the situation in Ukraine, possibilities and methods of support. In this context, I raised the issue that funds for Poland have not yet been unblocked by the European Commission. I emphasized our country's commitment to supporting Ukraine. I emphasized that it will be permanent”
- added.
One of the postulates of the head of the Ministry of National Defence concerned reimbursement.
“We talked about using EU funds to increase industrial production when it comes to the arms industry. Poland's postulate is that the refunds should be related to the purchase of military equipment also from outside the EU”
- noted M. Błaszczak.
