Zelensky’s speech causes bad blood: Poland will no longer send weapons to Ukraine | War Ukraine and Russia

LOOK. Poland displeased with statements by President Zelensky

“We are no longer transferring weapons to Ukraine, because we are now arming Poland with more modern weapons,” Morawiecki said when asked by a journalist whether his country will continue to support Kiev despite disagreements over grain exports.

From the moment Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Poland has been one of its neighbor’s closest allies. It is one of Kiev’s main arms suppliers and hosts around 1 million Ukrainian refugees, who receive various forms of state aid.

Poland is upset about statements made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday during a United Nations meeting in New York. He said the “political theater” surrounding grain exports from his country only plays into Russia’s hands. Zelensky was referring to the import ban on grain from Ukraine that Poland, Hungary and Slovakia have imposed.

According to Warsaw, putting pressure on Poland on an international stage such as the UN is not the way to resolve a dispute between two allies. Nor should the countries have to fight out their quarrel at the World Trade Organization (WTO), says Poland. Kiev filed a complaint there on Monday about the conduct of Poland, Hungary and Slovakia.

Last spring, the European Union banned the export of Ukrainian agricultural products to some member states concerned about their own agricultural sector. Last week the EU announced it would stop this, but the three countries continued the ban on their own.

The issue is particularly sensitive in Poland, where elections will be held next month. Prime Minister Morawiecki’s right-wing populist ruling party, Law and Justice (PiS), is particularly strong in regions that rely on agriculture.

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