Poland’s response to the German offer was welcomed by Ukraine, which is desperate to protect its airspace as Russian bombings damage power structures across the country.
But in the meantime, Germany’s Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht stressed that the use of NATO defense systems outside its territory must be approved by all member states.
“It is important for us that Poland can count on allies, so that there is support from everyone, even in difficult times,” Lambrecht told the press in Berlin.
“That’s why we volunteered to support the sky police and [mísseis] Patriot, which are part of an integrated NATO air defense, that is, they are intended for NATO territory. If they have been used outside the NATO area, this must be agreed in advance with NATO and allies,” he added.
In Poland, critics from the ruling populist party have accused him of sacrificing the country’s security with a neighboring war in Ukraine for the sake of a domestic political struggle that exploits anti-German sentiment for short-term gains.
“This proposal damages Poland’s credibility and, worst of all, its security. The Germans get a clear signal that we don’t want their help, the defense potential of Polish airspace will be less. In Europe’s worst war since 1945, this is an unforgivable mistake,” wrote Rzeczpospolita deputy daily editor Michal Szuldrzynski.
Poland’s ruling populist party, which faces elections next autumn and whose popularity has been hurt by 18% inflation, has stepped up its anti-German message, which has long been part of its rhetoric.
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, NATO strengthened its defenses along the eastern flank, including Poland, while Warsaw strengthened its forces through arms purchases.
The military offensive launched by Russia in Ukraine on February 24 has already led to the flight of more than 13 million people — more than six million internally displaced persons and more than 7.8 million to European countries — according to the latest data of the UN, which classifies this refugee crisis as the worst in Europe since World War II (1939-1945).
The Russian invasion – justified by the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, with the need to “denazify” and demilitarize Ukraine for Russian security – was condemned by the international community at large, which responded by sending weapons to Ukraine and Russia political and economic sanctions.
The UN presented 6,595 dead civilians and 10,189 wounded as confirmed since the start of the war, underlining that these numbers are well below the real ones.
Source: DN
