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US seeks answer from Poland on support for Ukraine after grain dispute

Sep 22, 2023

The United States demands clarification from Poland on its support for Ukraine after Polish officials suggested that Warsaw might cut off military aid to Kyiv.

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This was reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to Bloomberg.

A senior U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that Poland remains ready to support Ukraine, but the country's exact position is unclear.

Earlier this week, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said Warsaw had stopped supplying weapons to Ukraine, escalating a dispute with its eastern neighbor that is undermining a vital alliance in Kyiv's fight against Russia.

Although both sides subsequently called for an easing of tensions, the highly publicized dispute has called into question the unity that has defined relations between the neighbors. The spat, which began over Ukrainian grain shipments that have become a political burden for Poland, risks jeopardizing European solidarity with Ukraine in the fight against Russian invasion.

However, the U.S. official said that the disagreements between the allies have not yet led to the destruction of the unity of the coalition supporting Ukraine, an effort that he said is likely to take several years.

According to one European diplomat, Polish diplomats have privately assured their foreign counterparts that military support for Ukraine will continue, albeit on a smaller scale. According to the source, the loss of Poland's support could prove disastrous for Ukraine's military operations, as it risks undermining NATO's unity.

Author - Serhii Kolomiets, 23/09/2023

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