No Freebies, Buy Weapons on Credit: Poland to Kyiv

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski has proposed a shift in Poland's support for Ukraine, suggesting a "defense loan" arrangement instead of traditional military aid.

This was confirmed by the minister in an interview with Polsat News published on Nov. 1. Under this plan, Ukraine would be able to purchase weapons from Polish manufacturers on credit, with repayment postponed until Ukraine's post-war reconstruction phase. Sikorski indicated that Poland’s support is intended to bolster Ukraine’s defenses, while also promoting Polish defense production.

Sikorski remarked that a defense loan model might have been implemented earlier in the ongoing conflict, which began in February 2022, with Poland emerging as one of Ukraine’s key allies. Poland has already provided billions of dollars in military, economic, and humanitarian assistance and has hosted millions of Ukrainian refugees. However, as the war extends, Warsaw is re-evaluating its approach to ensure the sustainability of its support for Kyiv.

Poland’s stance follows recent discussions on arms supplies, particularly surrounding Ukraine's request for additional MiG-29 fighter jets. During an Oct. 31 meeting in Zakarpattia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated Kyiv's call for these fighter jets. Despite previous commitments, Poland has not yet fulfilled this request, citing limited availability after consulting with former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Sikorski defended Poland’s record, emphasizing that his country has already provided substantial aid and that the demand for MiG-29s exceeds current supply.

Sikorski highlighted that, while Western support for Ukraine has reached approximately $217 billion, Poland has shouldered a considerable share of military, financial, economic, humanitarian, and refugee assistance responsibilities.

The Polish MiG-29 fleet is considered highly capable due to extensive upgrades that meet NATO’s modern standards. Enhancements include improved cockpit displays, GPS-enabled navigation, and integration with NATO weapon systems, all supported by rigorous maintenance by Poland’s WZL-2 company. These features make Poland’s MiG-29s valuable for both national and alliance defense, but Sikorski clarified that Poland must prioritize its own security needs as a NATO frontline state, particularly given its close proximity to Russia.