Poland will not supply Ukraine with heavy weaponry

Poland will not supply Ukraine with heavy weaponry

Minister of Defence Tomasz Siemoniak has stated that Poland will not supply Ukraine with heavy weaponry as the struggle with pro-Russian separatists continues. 

Servicemen of Ukrainian volunteers battalion 'Azov' take part in exercises at a base in Mariupol, Ukraine, 09 February 2015. EPA/IVAN BOBERSKYY

''There is no chance of Poland sending heavy weaponry, Grom missiles, tanks or similar weapons,'' Siemoniak told the Gazeta Wyborcza daily.

While arguing that he sees no impediments to the prospective cooperation between Poland and Ukraine's defence industries, he nevertheless referred to German Chancellor Angela Merkel's reservations concerning arming Ukraine.

''Chancellor Merkel has argued that the decision to supply weapons to Ukraine does not frighten President Vladimir Putin, because it will be difficult for Ukraine to achieve a level that is comparable to the Russian military, and it will only further exacerbate the situation,'' he said.

Nevertheless, Siemoniak acknowledged that President of Lithunia Toomas Ilves has argued that Ukraine is still fighting with some weaponry from the 1960s and 1970s, while faced with 21 century equivalents.

To date, Poland has supplied the Ukrainian armed forces with rations, blankets and other materials.

Sanctions delayed

Meanwhile, the European Union delayed adding further Russian citizens and pro-Russian Ukrainian separarists to its sanctions list on Monday.

The matter has been postponed owing to the prospective ceasefire talks on Wednesday in Minsk, Belarus.

Ukrainian, Russian, German and French leaders are due to meet in the Belarusian capital.

Wednesday's meeting follows talks between Chancellor Merkel, President Putin and President of France Franciois Hollande in Moscow on Friday.

Siemoniak has said that above all, Poland supports the implementation of a ceasefire.