Polish Defense Minister Comments on Secret Transfer of Patriot Missiles to Ukraine
Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz explained that the decision to transfer Patriot missiles to Ukraine was made following a request from NATO and US military commands and does not affect Poland's air defense capabilities.
Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz commented on Monday during a press conference on the controversy surrounding the so-called secret transfer of Patriot air defense missiles to Ukraine.
The minister confirmed that Poland is one of six NATO countries operating the Patriot system with PAC-3 missiles. According to him, the decision to transfer was made in response to a request from the NATO Secretary General, the US European Command, and the US Joint Forces Commander in Europe, and after consultations with the operator group.
Kosiniak-Kamysz emphasized that the number of transferred missiles is an insignificant portion of Poland's stockpile and, according to assessments by US and allied experts, does not affect Poland's air defense capabilities. He also noted that under NATO and US principles, countries that assist Ukraine receive priority in the supply of new Patriot missiles.
Regarding the lack of information about the transfer, the minister explained that the topic was discussed: reports on requests, needs, the Secretary General's proposal, and the actual transfer reached the presidential administration and the National Security Bureau within weeks.
Kosiniak-Kamysz stressed that Ukraine is not Poland's enemy. "Poland's enemy is Russia. Our allies are in the West. The danger lies in Crimea. Poland must be united on security issues, because if it is fragmented, it will become weaker, and if divided – defenseless," he added.
It should be recalled that on Saturday, Deputy Speaker of the Sejm and leader of the Confederation party, Krzysztof Bosak, announced that in March the government secretly transferred expensive and difficult-to-obtain interceptor missiles for the Patriot system to Ukraine. He noted that these missiles are the only ones in the Polish army capable of countering Russian Iskander missiles.
In response, Kosiniak-Kamysz ordered the declassification of all military aid to Ukraine provided since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.
