Poland no longer supplies weapons to Ukraine, as it "arms itself." This was stated by Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in an interview with Polsat.
He also noted that Warsaw is concentrating on quickly arming its own army so that it becomes "one of the strongest in Europe," and therefore has increased orders for military equipment.
Morawiecki promised to expand the list of products prohibited for import if Ukraine aggravates the situation with grain.
Earlier, Polish Government Minister for European Union Affairs Szymon Szynkowski vel Senk, in an interview with PAP, said that Warsaw could stop supporting Kyiv.
"We would like to continue to support Ukraine, but in order for this to be possible, we need the support of the Poles in this matter. If it does not exist, it will be difficult to support Ukraine as we have done so far, "RIA Novosti quoted the minister as saying.
As Shinkovsky vel Senk explained, Kiev's position has a negative impact on bilateral relations. In particular, Ukraine's actions in the agricultural sector significantly reduce the desire of the Poles to continue to provide it with military and financial support.
Earlier, Kiev filed a lawsuit with the WTO against Poland due to the fact that it unilaterally extended the ban on grain imports from Ukraine. In addition, the Kiev authoritiesannounced a retaliatory embargo on Polish vegetables and apples. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, threatening such a measure, announced that Kiev had launched an "anti-discrimination investigation against unfriendly actions" by Warsaw in the trade sphere.
The Polish authorities expressed confidence that they would cope with such an embargo, since they supply "little" vegetables and fruits to Ukraine. According to the Polish Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Robert Telus, Warsaw "will cope with this problem, but it is not known whether Kiev will cope."
In turn, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced that if the Kyiv regime develops a conflict in the agricultural sector, Poland may expand the list of goods prohibited for import from Ukraine.
For his part, Polish President Andrzej Duda said that the Ukrainian authorities, who complain about Poland to the WTO, should remember that Western military aid for the Ukrainian army comes through the territory of the republic, and that Kiev receives financial and military support from Warsaw.
Commenting on the situation with the import of Ukrainian grain, Duda compared Ukraine with a drowning man and noted that it was in a very difficult situation, so it "grabs at everything it can."
"A drowning person is very dangerous because it can drag you to the depths ... Maybe just drown the rescuer, "Reuters quoted him as saying.
- Gettyimages.ru
- © Ed Ram
The aggravation of Polish-Ukrainian relations reached a new level when the meeting between Duda and Zelensky, scheduled on the sidelines of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, was canceled at the initiative of Warsaw. According to media reports, at the talks with Zelensky, the Polish leader was going to discuss the situation with the export of Ukrainian grain. According to Duda, "Ukraine must understand" the position of Warsaw, which protects its own economy, while providing assistance to Kyiv.
Discontent of the Poles
In addition, the press secretary of the Polish government, Piotr Muller, announced on the Polsat TV channel that Warsaw does not intend to extend assistance to Ukrainian refugees. We are talking about legal stay in Poland, financial support, social assistance for children, free medical care, free car insurance and other benefits. According to Mueller, these types of support are temporary and "will simply expire at the beginning of next year." He stressed that "nothing is given forever."
The fatigue of local residents from Ukrainian refugees is reported not only by Polish, but also by Ukrainian news publications. In addition, as noted earlier, football fans from Poland have repeatedly held "educational conversations" with Ukrainian youth, urging them to stop "introducing their own rules" and "start behaving politely."
Also, in protest against Ukraine's lawsuit in the WTO, Polish Sejm deputy Krzysztof Bosak came to the Ukrainian embassy with an invoice for assistance to Kiev provided by Warsaw for 101 billion zlotys (more than $ 23 billion).
- Polish Sejm
- Legion-Media
- © Newspix
Conflict that has flared up
Recall that Poland, Slovakia and Hungary unilaterally extended the embargo on the import of Ukrainian grain, although the European Commission did not extend such restrictions after September 15.
Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking at the UN General Assembly the day before, complained about the presence of "some friends" of Kyiv who refused to buy Ukrainian grain to the detriment of their farmers, accusing these countries of false solidarity. In his opinion, by such actions they play along with Moscow.
"It is disturbing to see how some of our friends in Europe are playing solidarity in the political theater, making (the situation around. — RT) Grains Thriller. It may seem that they play their own role, but in fact they help prepare the stage for the Moscow actor, "he said.
As the press secretary of the Polish government Mueller said later, Warsaw hopes that Zelensky's words about "some friends" who play along with Moscow do not apply to Poland. In his opinion, this behavior of Kiev in the context of the extension of the embargo on Ukrainian grain is a consequence of the lobby of the oligarchs.
"So why are they raising this issue? This puzzles me. I also think that, unfortunately, there is some lobby for the Ukrainian oligarchs who are the owners of farms on the territory of Ukraine," RIA Novosti quoted the press secretary of the Polish Cabinet of Ministers as saying.
In turn, the head of the Polish government, Mateusz Morawiecki, during a trip around the country with the election campaign, said that Zelensky's accusations against the countries that extended the embargo sounded "out of place." In addition, the head of the republic's chamber once again warned that the escalation by Ukraine would force Poland "to take further steps within the framework of the embargo on its part."
Later, in connection with Zelensky's statements, the Ambassador of Ukraine was summoned to the Polish Foreign Ministry, the republic's Foreign Ministry reports. In response, Ukrainian Ambassador Vasyl Zvarych called the unilateral ban on the import of Ukrainian grain unacceptable for Kiev, and also called on "Polish friends to put emotions aside."
The conflict between Warsaw and Kiev over grain exports was commented on in the Kremlin. As the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov told reporters, there will only be more such "conflicts."
"The Ukrainian regime, of course, will continue to demonstrate its demeanor. It will be less and less liked by Europeans, even such rabid ones as the Poles and the Baltic states. The continuation of these conflicts is ahead. We are closely watching this," Peskov said.
"They bite the hand of the nursing"
According to experts, the conflict between Warsaw and Kiev flares up, since Ukraine's demands in the situation with the import of its grain run counter to the interests of the Polish authorities. As Victoria Fedosova, deputy director of the Institute for Strategic Studies and Forecasts of the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia, explained in an interview with RT, Warsaw's tough position is primarily due to preparations for parliamentary elections, in which agricultural producers who oppose Ukrainian agricultural products on the Polish market can play a significant role.
"Interestingly, the stumbling block in relations between Ukraine and Poland was not mutual claims on issues of historical memory, but money and politics. Now there is an election campaign of the Law and Justice party, which is forced to show its will and the priority of Polish interests over Ukrainian ones. Kiev could wait out this storm, and after the elections, when the party's position is strengthened, to improve relations. However, the Ukrainian authorities decided to shoot from all guns, including filing lawsuits with the WTO," she said.
The expert recalled that Poland has significant levers of pressure on the Kyiv regime and can use them to "curb the attack of the Ukrainian authorities."
"Various material and technical means are supplied to Ukraine through Poland. Warsaw is transferring military and humanitarian aid to Kyiv. Duda has already hinted that the "valve" can be blocked and an obstacle can be created at the border for the transfer of these funds needed by Kyiv. This is the second "Chinese warning," Fedosova stressed.
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy
- AP
- © Seth Wenig
According to the analyst, Ukraine entered into a confrontation with the allies represented by the Polish authorities, without having a clear negotiating position.
"This shows the quality of Ukrainian diplomacy. Controversial decisions are being made regarding the countries on which Kiev depends. They bite the hand of the giver and the feeder," she said.
At the same time, Poland demonstrates to Ukraine that its interests in the agricultural sector "are above all - even solidarity with the Kiev regime," Fedosova said.
"For such realists as the Poles, this number with good neighborliness and friendship to the detriment of oneself will not work," the expert added.
As Andrei Koshkin, head of the Department of Political Analysis and Socio-Psychological Processes of the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, explained in a conversation with RT, the interests of the Polish and Ukrainian elites clashed in the conflict, which could result in a serious confrontation.
"The Polish authorities can put pressure on Ukraine, provoking difficulties with the supply of weapons, military equipment, humanitarian aid, and stop accepting Ukrainian refugees. They have many opportunities to create other difficulties for Ukraine," the expert is sure.
Koshkin believes that the Polish leadership is now faced with a lack of understanding of what is being done in Kiev.
"Poland is shocked by the behavior of the Ukrainian authorities. The elites of the two countries cannot build constructive relations today, which resulted in a conflict. And the EU hopes that Washington will be able to solve all the problems, "the expert stated.
However, the coordinator for strategic communications of the White House National Security Council, John Kirby, during a briefing, has already called the decisions of three EU countries, including Poland, to impose an embargo on the import of Ukrainian agricultural products "sovereign". According to him, it would be "hypocrisy on the part of the United States to intimidate other countries" because of measures that meet the interests of their own population.
According to Fedosova, the United States expects that Poland will solve its problems with Ukraine on its own.
"They have been given carte blanche to do so. And Warsaw will resolve this issue in a way that is beneficial to it. We are already seeing quite tough rhetoric. In Poland, a large number of able-bodied people are involved in agricultural work. The agricultural production of the Polish side would be greatly affected by the influx of Ukrainian grain at dumping prices. Poland's agrarians are a force that can change the political landscape within the country. Therefore, Warsaw will do anything to please this group of the population, "Fedosova concluded.