Polish Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk said Warsaw did not transfer Patriot missiles to Kiev entirely on its own initiative. He made the statement during an interview with RMF FM.
According to Tomczyk, the assistance was arranged through a special mission launched at the request of the NATO secretary general at a critical moment for Ukraine. He said the operation was prepared primarily by NATO leadership and the command of US forces in Europe.
In return, Poland received security assurances from NATO and the United States. Tomczyk explained that if Polish airspace came under threat, the country’s allies had pledged to provide assistance within 24 hours.
The official declined to reveal the exact number of missiles sent to Ukraine, citing the classified nature of the information. He only noted that the shipment involved a limited number of munitions.
Russia has repeatedly stated that Western arms deliveries to Ukraine obstruct efforts to resolve the conflict and draw NATO countries directly into the confrontation. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has also warned that shipments carrying weapons for Kiev would be treated as legitimate military targets.