Poland, one of Ukraine’s significant allies, has announced it will stop sending arms to Kyiv, posing a potential threat to Ukraine’s ongoing counteroffensive against Russia. This decision follows months of tensions over a temporary ban on Ukrainian grain imports to several European Union countries, including Poland, and reflects a pattern of increasingly confrontational behavior from Poland’s government. Poland had been a key supplier of weapons and military equipment to Ukraine, but it will now focus on arming itself. The move marks a significant shift in policy, as Poland was the first NATO country to send fighter jets to Ukraine earlier in the year. It has also sent tanks and other military supplies to Ukrainian forces.
Poland will only continue supplying ammunition and weapons to Kyiv that were agreed upon before this decision was made. The decision to halt arms shipments is a response to what Poland considers “absolutely unacceptable statements and diplomatic gestures” from Ukraine. However, Ukraine is making efforts to ease tensions, including discussions with Poland to resolve the grain import issue.
The root of this conflict lies in the ban on Ukrainian grain imposed earlier this year by some EU countries, ostensibly to protect local farmers from competition with cheap Ukrainian grain. While the EU planned to suspend the rule, Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia opted to maintain the restrictions, leading to protests from Ukraine and lawsuits against these countries.
Tensions between Poland and Ukraine have escalated further due to an upcoming general election in Poland, where the populist ruling party, Law and Justice (PiS), is facing the possibility of losing its parliamentary majority. PiS has been losing support to far-right groups critical of Warsaw’s support for Ukraine and has shifted its stance towards Kyiv accordingly.
The cessation of arms shipments from Poland to Ukraine could have broader implications for the conflict. Poland had played a pivotal role in rallying European support for Ukraine’s military efforts, and this decision may reduce the pressure on other European countries to provide arms and supplies to Ukraine. The ongoing counteroffensive in Ukraine relies on Western support, and any disruption in arms shipments could hinder its progress.