Poland, once once of Kyiv’s staunchest allies, has announced it will be halting all arms supplies to Ukraine – a shock move from the same neighbour once pressurising other western countries to send heavier military equipment to Kyiv.
“We are no longer transferring weapons to Ukraine because we are now arming Poland with more modern weapons,” said Polish PM Mateusz Morawieck. “Ukraine is defending itself against Russia’s brutal attack, and I understand this situation, but we will defend our country.”
The move comes amid an escalating row over grain exports after Poland banned Ukrainian grain imports in order to protect the interests of its national farmers.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine closed off Black Sea shipping lanes used prior to the war meaning the EU became a major export destination for Ukrainian grain. Farmers in the five member states bordering Ukraine began to blame these imports for a slump in prices on local markets. In May, the EU sought to protect them by agreeing to restrict imports to Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia, allowing Ukrainian grain to move through these countries but preventing it from being sold on the local market.
Last Friday, tensions were reignited. The European Commission said it was ending the import ban since “market distortions” in these five countries “have disappeared”. Poland, Hungary and Slovakia immediately said they would not comply, prompting Ukraine to say it would file a complaint with the World Trade Organization.
Zelensky then used his speech at the UN general assembly to accuse the likes of Poland of feigning solidarity with Ukraine and “helping to set the stage to a Moscow actor.”
Morawiecki denounced his “unjustified comments”, adding that “Ukrainian authorities do not understand the degree to which Poland’s farming industry has been destabilised.”
The issue is particularly heated in Poland given that elections are taking place next month and Poland’s conservatives need the rural vote to stay in power. The right-wing government of the Law and Justice party has strong support in farming regions and is looking to win an unprecedented third term.
“We were the first to do a lot for Ukraine and that’s why we expect for them to understand our interests,” Morawiecki added.
Poland is not only one of Kyiv’s main weapon suppliers, it was also the first NATO member to pledge fighter jets to Ukraine in March this year. And it allows other foreign allies to store and transport arms over the Polish border into Ukraine. Military aid aside, it has also led efforts to rehouse Ukrainian refugees and is now hosting over one million, who have been supplied with various forms of state aid.
It is without question a bad country to fall out with and this will be a major headache for Kyiv’s other allies to resolve.
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