Ukraine war: Zelenskiy thanks Poland for support and shelter during visit

Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskiy has thanked Poland, on a visit to Warsaw, for agreeing a “powerful defence package” to help his country face down Russian forces.

Ahead of political talks, Mr Zelenskiy thanked the Polish people for their “warm, human embrace” to more than 1.3 million Ukrainians in the past 14 months. “We regard Poland as not only our partner, but a true friend for centuries,” he said. “Ukraine will never forget it, ever.”

Polish president Andrzej Duda said the recent delivery of four MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine would be followed by another four, as well as six further planes currently being repaired.

On top of 300 tanks, howitzers, portable air-defence systems and other equipment, the Polish president said his country would do everything it could to “help the defenders of Ukraine, who are heroically resisting the Russian invader”.

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“Russia again seeks to widen its sphere of influence and Ukraine is the first country to have met these efforts with a tough, determined resistance,” said Mr Duda. “That’s why we are supporting Ukraine... and I assured president Zelenskiy that we will continue to support Ukraine.”

Poland would continue to support Ukraine’s efforts to join the EU, said Mr Duda, and, at a Nato summit next July in Ukraine, Warsaw would push for “additional security guarantees to strength Ukraine’s military potential”.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has seen a huge show of political, economic and military support from Poland towards its eastern neighbour.

After trips to the US, Belgium, the UK and France, Mr Zelenskiy’s visit to neighbouring Poland – where he was joined by his wife, Olena Zelenska, and received with full military honours – was of huge significance for two countries with a complicated and burdened past.

Looking forward, Mr Duda promised a “brotherhood between our nations for the future” and presented the Ukrainian president – a “man of outstanding qualities” – with Poland’s highest civil honour, the Order of the White Eagle.

“Volodymyr, you are unique,” said Mr Duda. “Having received the mandate from your people, you suddenly were called to a unique mission that nobody could have foreseen.”

On Tuesday, Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg said Mr Zelenskiy had been invited to the alliance’s July summit. “A strong independent Ukraine is vital for the stability of the Euro-Atlantic area, and we look forward to meeting president Zelenskiy at our Vilnius summit in July,” added Mr Stoltenberg.

Poland’s assistance to Ukraine has not been without tensions, in particular the struggle to house so many new arrivals. On Wednesday, Poland’s agriculture minister announced his resignation amid a row with Brussels over cut-price Ukrainian grain imports. Poland has accepted nearly three million tonnes of Ukrainian grain since Black Sea ports were blocked following the Russian invasion.

Logistics bottlenecks mean large quantities of Ukrainian grain, which is cheaper than grain produced in the European Union, has remained in central European countries. That in turn has hurt prices and sales of local farmers in Poland. Along with four other EU countries, Poland sent a joint letter to the European Commission last week, backing demands of local farmers for restrictions on Ukrainian grain imports.

“Since it is evident that the farmers’ main demand will not be met by the European Commission, I have decided to resign,” said Henryk Kowalczyk, minister for agriculture and rural development.

After further talks with Polish prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki, Mr Zelenskiy said the two countries had “found a way out … to resolve all issues” on the grain issue, without any further detail. The two signed an agreement for Poland to deliver more troop transport vehicles and other defence equipment, as well as a memorandum of co-operation for the reconstruction of Ukraine.

“We would very much like Polish businesses to be among the leaders on our market,” said Mr Zelenskiy.