- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

Polish Military Could Intervene in Ukrainian Conflict – Politician

© Flickr / UK Ministry of DefencePolish Soldier with Beryl Assault Rifle
Polish Soldier with Beryl Assault Rifle - Sputnik International
Subscribe
Poland's armed forces could get involved in the Ukrainian conflict after Kiev's investment in Polish offensive weapons, according to the head of the Polish party Zmiana (Change), Mateusz Piskorski.

Polish soldiers watch as US troops from the 5th Battalion of the 7th Air Defense Regiment emplace a launching station of the Patriot air and missile defence system at a test range in Sochaczew, Poland, on March 21, 2015. - Sputnik International
Poland Buys Patriot Missiles as NATO Ramps Up Military Capacity
MOSCOW (Sputnik), Yulia Shamporova — Poland's increase in military build-up could potentially lead to an intervention in the current Ukrainian conflict, head of the Polish party Zmiana (Change), Mateusz Piskorski told Sputnik Thursday.

On Tuesday, Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski announced that Warsaw is planning to buy US Patriot surface-to-air missiles in light of a perceived Russian threat.

"Poland is investing in offensive weapons which means that it does not build its own security, its own defense system, but it builds a kind of army units that would be ready for intervention and aggression abroad. In the context of the Ukrainian conflict, it is quite obvious that potentially Polish force could be used in Ukraine," Piskorski said.

Janusz Korwin-Mikke, the Polish MEP who stated that the Maidan snipers were trained in his country, has told Sputnik that Polish participation in the events of Maidan is a well-known fact, adding that the US, not Russia, stood to gain from the country's destabilization. - Sputnik International
Polish MEP on Ukraine Snipers: US, Not Russia, Sought Destabilization
He noted that Poland's militarization contradicts the country's national interests and will drain resources from its budget.

"Probably, Poland will have to sign several bills about financing all these programs of Armed Forces organizations which will rise and increase the already existing debt of Poland, which of course, influence the whole political and economic situation in the country," Piskorski said.

He added that currently different social groups in Poland are raising concerns about the authorities' plans to raise the military budget instead of addressing important social issues.

In mid-April, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said that the conflict in Ukraine prompted many European countries, including Poland and the Baltic states to boost their military spending. According to SIPRI, in 2015 Poland is to increase its military budget by 19 percent to $9.9 billion.

The United States pressures Eastern European countries to sign military deals with Washington to disrupt cooperation between Russia and the European Union, Mateusz Piskorski told Sputnik.

“Poland together with other Eastern European countries, including all the three Baltic countries and Romania are used by the US policymakers to disrupt any ideas and concepts of cooperation between Russia, Eurasian Union and European Union.”

A US Army's Patriot Surface-to Air missile system - Sputnik International
US Welcomes Poland's Decision to Purchase Patriot Missile System
Earlier this week, Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski said Poland would negotiate an agreement with the United States to purchase a set of the medium-range Patriot missiles.

According to Piskorski, there are no strategic military-defense reasons for signing the deal. The only reason to place a Patriot missile system in Poland is the financial interest promoted by US politicians.

The deal could create tensions, not only with Russia but also between Poland and its neighbors, Piskorski said, adding that the agreement is part of Washington’s “policy of dividing Europe.”

In 2009, the United States and NATO included Poland in its ballistic missile defense system in Europe. Moscow has repeatedly raised concerns over the placement of ballistic missile systems close to Russia’s borders, adding that the move could unbalance the region.

Washington is pushing the Polish government to sign deals with US companies to modernize the Polish military, the Polish politician said.

"In this particular case there is no strategic justification [or] strategic arguments for placing the Patriot system in Poland. It's just a financial cooperation or interest which is promoted by the US politicians."

The Polish party leader also noted that a few years ago Hillary Clinton, at that time Secretary of State, visited Poland together with several representatives of the US defense industry, openly trying to lobby their interests.

"The US politicians applied a lot of pressure on Polish decision-makers to buy the equipment and all the weapons from the US, this is the part of their policy. I think that first and foremost it's a realization of some business plans of the US industry in Europe."

U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) places her hand over her heart during the National Anthem at the 30th annual Harkin Steak Fry in Indianola, Iowa, in this September 16, 2007 file photo - Sputnik International
What Would A Clinton Presidency Mean for Relations With Russia?
The politician also said that the possible Patriot contract is a mixture of US business and political interests, adding that Poland is "perceived, used and abused" by Washington as a warmonger in Eastern Europe.

"From the strategic point of view and from the point of view of the security interests of Poland, this [Patriot deal] decision might bring some tensions between Poland and its neighbors, not only Russia, but also other countries which oppose this war propaganda and war rhetoric of the United States which is supported by the Polish authorities," the politician told Sputnik.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала