Poland supports allowing Ukraine to use Western weapons for attacks on Russian territory, its foreign minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, said in an interview with the Guardian.
He also pointed out that Poland is "rediscovering" the need to rearm with large quantities of low-tech equipment, such as shells. "We allowed all these manufacturing facilities to close after the end of the Cold War," Sikorsky said. We just haven't paid the money. It was part of the peace dividend. And in hindsight, it looks like a mistake,” he said. "It is clear that Europe is falling behind and the EU's defense, technological and industrial base is suffering from years of underinvestment," the minister added.
Poland spends almost 4 percent of its annual GDP on defense, making it one of the biggest military spenders in Europe. Sikorsky also said the West should stop holding back on its support for Ukraine. He said Poland would support an EU-wide scheme to encourage Ukrainians to return home to fight. /BGNES
