The Polish government rejected a German-proposed anti-missile system this Thursday, saying it should be handed over to Ukraine. This proposal is unacceptable to Berlin, as it will increase NATO’s involvement in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
Poland’s response to Germany’s offer has been welcomed by Ukraine, which is desperate to protect its airspace as Russian bombing attacks wreak havoc on security forces across the country.
But, meanwhile, German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht stressed that the use of NATO defense systems outside its territory must be agreed upon by all member states.
“It is important for us that Poland can count on allies, that there is support among all, even in difficult times,” Lambrecht told reporters in Berlin.
“That’s why we volunteered to support the Air Police and [mísseis] Patriot, which are part of the joint NATO air defense, that is, they are intended for NATO territory. If they were used outside the NATO area of operation, this should be agreed in advance with NATO and allies, ”he added.
In Poland, critics of the ruling populist party have accused him of sacrificing the country’s security over the neighboring war in Ukraine for a domestic political struggle that exploits anti-German sentiment for short-term gains.
“This proposal affects the authority of Poland and, worst of all, its security. The Germans receive a clear signal that we do not want their help, the defense potential of the Polish sky will be less. In the worst war in Europe since 1945, this is an unforgivable mistake,” wrote Michał Szulczynski, deputy editor of the Rzeczpospolita daily.
Poland’s ruling populist party, which faces elections this fall and whose popularity has been hurt by 18 percent inflation, is stepping up the anti-German streak that has long been part of its rhetoric.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, NATO has beefed up defenses on its eastern flank, including Poland, while Warsaw has worked to bolster its military through arms acquisition.
The military offensive launched on February 24 by Russia in Ukraine has already caused the flight of more than 13 million people – more than six million internally displaced people and more than 7.8 million to European countries – according to the latest UN data, which classifies this migration crisis as the worst in Europe since World War II (1939-1945).
The Russian invasion, justified by Russian President Vladimir Putin on the need to “denazify” and demilitarize Ukraine for Russia’s security, was condemned by the international community at large, which responded by sending weapons to Ukraine and imposing political and economic sanctions on Russia.
The UN has presented 6,595 civilian deaths and 10,189 wounded as confirmed since the start of the war, emphasizing that these figures are much lower than the real ones.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
I am Michael Melvin, an experienced news writer with a passion for uncovering stories and bringing them to the public. I have been working in the news industry for over five years now, and my work has been published on multiple websites. As an author at 24 News Reporters, I cover world section of current events stories that are both informative and captivating to read.