- Poland says it will withdraw its supply of arms to Kyiv as a dispute over grain intensifies – and the prime minister of one of Ukraine’s most important allies issues a “warning” to its wartorn neighbour
In what represents a potentially major blow to Ukraine’s hopes of defeating Russia, one of Kyiv’s staunchest allies appears to have withdrawn key support for its wartorn neighbour during an escalating dispute between the two countries.
As previously detailed here, reports emerged last night that Poland’s prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, had said: “We are no longer transferring weapons to Ukraine, because we are now arming Poland with more modern weapons.”
The comments signalled a sharp escalation in a dispute between the two nations, coming just a few hours after Warsaw summoned Kyiv’s ambassador in a row over grain exports.
Mr Morawiecki later followed this up with a televised statement that represented a further intensification of the seemingly growing divide.
“I am warning Ukraine’s authorities,” he said.
“Because if they are to escalate the conflict like that, we will add additional products to the ban on imports into Poland.
“Ukrainian authorities do not understand the degree to which Poland’s farming industry has been destabilised. We are protecting Polish farmers.”
While the development would represent a major setback for Kyiv, there remains some hope among experts that the disagreement can be resolved.
Sergey Radchenko, a Cold War professor at Henry Kissinger Center for Global Affairs and Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, said it was in both nation’s interests to settle the row.
“I think (hope) this dispute will soon be settled (Warsaw undoubtedly understands that having Ukraine overrun by Russia is the second worst thing to having Poland itself overrun by Russia),” he said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Still, this is in a way a pointer to the future of Eastern Europe.
“Both countries (Ukraine and Poland) are illiberal democracies, and are, not unlike some of their neighbours, highly susceptible to toxic nationalism, and to politics of resentment.
“What we are seeing here is an interesting example, though given Russia’s looming threat, I’m sure they will work it out.”
Other analysts have suggested the statements from Poland’s prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, are a product of a challenge to his ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party ahead of elections on October 15.
They have come under pressure from the far-right Confederation over support to Ukraine – and are said to fear the challengers lower its chances of winning a functioning majority by splitting right-of-centre Poles.
@Sky News