Poland

Poland to be 1st NATO member to give Ukraine fighter jets to defend itself

Poland said Thursday it plans to give Ukraine about a dozen MiG-29 fighter jets, which would make it the first NATO member to fulfil Kyiv's increasingly urgent requests for warplanes to defend itself against the Russian invasion. Warsaw will hand over four of the Soviet-made warplanes "within the next few days," President Andrzej Duda said, and the rest needed servicing but would be supplied later. The Polish word he used to describe the total number can mean between 11 and 19. "They are in the last years of their functioning, but they are in good working condition," Duda said. He did not say whether other countries would follow suit, although Slovakia has said it would send its own disused MiGs to Ukraine. Poland also was the first NATO nation to provide Ukraine with German-made Leopard 2 tanks. On Wednesday, Polish government spokesman Piotr Mueller said some other countries also had pledged MiGs to Kyiv, but did not identify them. Both Poland and Slovakia had indicated they were

Poland may hand Soviet-made MiG-29 jet fighters to Ukraine within weeks

Poland's prime minister said Tuesday that his government may hand its Soviet-made MiG-29 fighters jets over to Ukraine within the next four to six weeks. Poland's leaders said last week that sending the warplanes would be only done within a larger international coalition. Slovakia has also declared readiness to provide its MiG-29 planes to Kyiv and the two NATO nations have urged others to join in. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki on Tuesday said that Warsaw could send its MiGs within weeks, but didn't clarify whether there was any coalition ready to follow suit. Ukraine's air force is familiar with MiG-29s and could use the planes right away. Poland has been using the fighter jets since 1989 and has 28 of them. It has been replacing them with US-made F-16s and South Korean FA 50 multi-task jets and is also purchasing US F-35 fighters. Ukraine has been asking the West for fighter jets to beef up its defenses as Russia's war drags on for a second year. There are still no si

Poland, Slovakia urge allies to send fighter jets to Ukraine as war rages

Officials in Poland and Slovakia are urging their allies to provide fighter jets to Ukraine, saying they are ready to send their their Soviet-made MiG-29 jet fighters to Kyiv as part of an international coalition. However, it still remains unclear if any other Western supporters of Ukraine are ready to take that step. "I think it's time to make a decision. People in Ukraine are dying. We can really help them," Slovak Defence Minister Jaroslav Nad said Thursday on Facebook. "This is inhumane and irresponsible." Slovak and Polish officials have made the calls before but have renewed their appeals in recent days. Both countries are NATO members. Polish President Andrzej Duda said Wednesday on CNN that Poland was ready to provide Ukraine with the MiG-29 fighters in coalition with other countries. Nad also said it was a matter of discussion between himself and his Polish counterpart at a meeting in Sweden on Wednesday and that they agree on the matter. Poland's Defense Ministry said i

Biden in Poland: US, allies 'will never waver' in supporting Ukraine

President Joe Biden warned of 'hard and bitter days ahead" as Russia's invasion of Ukraine nears the one-year mark, but vowed that no matter what, the United States and allies "will not waver" in supporting the Ukrainians. A day after his surprise visit to Kyiv, Biden used a strongly worded address in neighboring Poland to praise allies in Europe for stepping up over the past year and to send a clear message to Russian President Vladimir Putin that "NATO will not be divided, and we will not tire. One year ago, the world was bracing for the fall of Kyiv, Biden said before a crowd of thousands outside Warsaw's Royal Castle. I can report: Kyiv stands strong. Kyiv stands proud. It stands tall and, most important, it stands free." With Russia and Ukraine each preparing spring offensives, Biden insisted there will be no backing down from what he's portrayed as a global struggle between democracy and autocracy though polling suggests American support for ongoing military assistance appear

US approves $10 billion arms sale to Poland as Ukraine war rages on

The Biden administration on Tuesday approved a USD 10 billion arms sale to NATO ally Poland as Russia's war in neighbouring Ukraine rages. The State Department notified Congress that the sale comprises mid-range, mobile HIMARS artillery rocket systems, associated ammunition and related equipment. Poland and other eastern flank NATO allies become increasingly concerned about the possibility of a new Russian offensive in Ukraine along their borders as the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion approaches toward the end of the month. The department said the sale would support U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives by bolstering the defensive capabilities of a NATO ally. The department also said Poland is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe. The proposed sale will improve Poland's military goals of updating capability while further enhancing interoperability with the United States and other allies, it said. Poland intends to use these defen

Won't block Leopard tanks to Ukraine, says Germany's foreign minister

The Kyiv government wants the German-made Leopard 2 tank to break through Russian lines and recapture territory this year

We have decided to send Leopard tanks to Ukraine: Poland President Duda

'A company of Leopard tanks will be handed over as part of building an international coalition'

Poland to seek US help with WWII compensation from Germany: Dy FM Mularczyk

Poland will seek help from the US in its pursuit to claim World War II reparations from Germany, Deputy Foreign Minister Arkadiusz Mularczyk said here.

Poland asks for UN intervention to secure WWII damages from Germany

On September 1, 2022, the Polish government presented a report detailing the material losses suffered by Poland during World War II, along with a pledge to demand money from Germany in reparations

France to provide two observation satellites, receiving station to Poland

France will provide Poland with two observation satellites and a receiving station under a deal sealed Tuesday in Warsaw which Poland says will help its armed forces recognise threats early. Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak, after meeting with his French counterpart Sbastien Lecornu, announced that they approved an agreement between Airbus and the Polish Armament Agency on equipping the Polish army with two reconnaissance satellites. Blaszczak said the agreement represented a good opportunity to strengthen our capacity for the early detection of threats. The Polish Armament Agency put the total value of the deal at 575 million euros ($612 million) and said the launch of the satellites into space would be completed by 2027. The Polish Defence Ministry said that thanks to the satellites, its military will be able to obtain reconnaissance data with an accuracy of 30 centimeters (nearly a foot). Blaszczak called it an early-warning system against both military and civilian ..

Fourth Reich to be created: Russia's Dmitry Medvedev makes 2023 prediction

Medvedev also said that a war is likely to break out between France and the Fourth Reich. In the process, Europe will be divided, whereas Poland repartitioned

Food prices in Poland unlikely to fall next year, says Minister Kowalczyk

He added that Poles did not have to worry about the country's food security as Poland was a huge food producer and exporter

India, Poland hold 10th round of Foreign Office Consultations in Warsaw

During the meeting, the two sides discussed regional and international issues, including developments in the Indo-Pacific, India's neighbourhood, and the Ukraine conflict

US approves $4 billion sale of Abrams battle tanks to NATO ally Poland

The Biden administration on Tuesday approved a nearly USD 4 billion sale of advanced tanks, other combat vehicles and a large amount of assorted weaponry to NATO ally Poland at a time of heightened security concerns because of the war in neighbouring Ukraine. The State Department said it had given the OK for Poland to purchase 116 M1A1 Abrams Battle Tanks and other equipment, including tens of thousands of rounds of various ammunition, worth approximately USD 3.75 billion. At the same time, the department said it had also approved a USD 1.5 billion sale of Chinook helicopters to treaty ally South Korea. The department said both sales were in support of US national security interests and would not alter the basic military balance in either region, which are facing threats from Russia and North Korea. The Abrams tank purchase by Poland will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a NATO ally that is a force f

Emerging markets face risk of policy error amid conflicting priorities

Emerging markets have witnessed an investor exodus this year despite having raised interest rates at an unprecedented pace

FIFA WC: Mbappe's brace helps France trounce Poland 3-1 to reach QFs

Just before halftime, Giroud handed France the lead, becoming their men's all-time leading scorer. Mbappe then dominated the second half with a magnificent brace

Fifa World Cup FRA vs POL Highlights: Mbappe's brace takes France to last 8

Fifa World Cup 2022, France vs Poland, Round of 16 Highlights: Kylian Mbappe's two rocket goals plus Olivia Giroud's record 53rd international goal took France over the line as they beat Poland 3-1

Messi and Argentina advance at Fifa World Cup 2022, beat Poland 2-0

Rest easy, soccer fans. Lionel Messi will grace the World Cup stage at least one more time. The Argentina great had a penalty saved but his team still beat Poland 2-0 Wednesday after second-half goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez and advanced to the last 16. Argentina finished in first place in Group C to set up a match against Australia, a surprise qualifier for the knockout stage. It's a strong position for Argentina to be in, especially considering the team opened the World Cup with a shocking 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia in one of biggest upsets in the tournament's history. Messi's likely final World Cup rolls onto Saturday. He will be relieved after failing to score a penalty for the second straight World Cup. It was awarded after being hit in the face by the flailing hand of Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, who made amends by diving to his left to block Messi's kick. Mac Allister converted a cross from Nahuel Molina inside the first minute of the second half a

Cryptocurrency lender BlockFi goes bankrupt in aftermath of FTX downfall

BlockFi said in a statement that it will use the Chapter 11 process to "focus on recovering all obligations owed to BlockFi by its counterparties, including FTX and associated corporate entities"

EU diplomats suspend talks on capping Russian oil prices as divisions stick

Poland and the Baltic nations are outraged at a proposal to cap Russian oil prices at $65 per barrel limit, as the level is above the rates Moscow sells crude now