WARSAW, Poland — Poland’s prime minister said his country is no longer sending arms to Ukraine, a comment that appeared aimed at pressuring Kyiv and put Poland’s status as a major source of military equipment in doubt as a trade dispute between the neighboring states escalates.
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said in an interview late on Wednesday that Poland is no longer transferring weapons to Ukraine. He made the comment as his populist party faces pressure from a far-right party in a national election on Oct. 15. The far-right party, Confederation, says Poland is not getting the gratitude it deserves for arming Ukraine and accepting its refugees.
“We are no longer transferring any weapons to Ukraine because we are now arming ourselves with the most modern weapons,” Morawiecki said in an interview on Polsat, a private television broadcaster. He did not elaborate or explain if and how the two actions were mutually exclusive. The prime minister then spoke of a military modernization plan underway, spurred by fears of Russian aggression in the region.