Today we can announce Ukraine receives first Leopard tanks from Poland – President after meeting with Mateusz Morawiecki in Kyiv
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with Prime Minister of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki, who is in our country on a visit.
Zelenskyy said that Morawiecki, a great friend of our state and people, arrived in Kyiv on a special day for Ukraine – the anniversary of our resilience.
"Your presence today in Ukraine, in its capital, is a powerful symbol of the unity of Ukraine and Poland, our common resilience and effective solidarity. Something that distinguishes everyone who successfully fights for values, in particular for freedom," the Head of State said at a meeting with media representatives following the negotiations with the head of the Polish government in Kyiv.
The President said that Poland was with Ukraine even before the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, remains with us every minute of the war and will be with our state until joint victory.
Zelenskyy said that Poland is one of the leading allies of Ukraine in terms of the size of support provided and is a powerful leader of the tank coalition.
"These are weapons, economic, political, and humanitarian support for our people. Everything that really strengthens the defense of Ukraine and Ukrainians. Poland became one of the founders of the tank coalition for Ukraine. Today, we can report that the first tanks from Poland are already in Ukraine and are strengthening our defense," the Head of State said.
"Thank you, Mateusz, that it was you who initiated the creation of this tank coalition. It is very important leadership," he added.
Zelenskyy thanked the Polish government for its leadership, as well as all partners who have joined or are joining the tank coalition.
"I believe that thanks to such determination – ours and our Polish brothers, all our allies – we will be able to overcome another defense taboo – the aviation coalition. It is a very difficult issue, but we all have to work on it. It will strengthen the Ukrainian army and, most importantly, strengthen the security of our space," the President said.
During the meeting in Kyiv, the parties also discussed the entire range of defense issues and the introduction of new sanctions against Russia.
Separately, the meeting participants paid attention to cooperation in the issue of treatment and rehabilitation of Ukrainian soldiers. Zelenskyy said that today, he and Morawiecki visited Ukrainian servicemen who are being treated for injuries in the hospital.
"There is a proposal from the Prime Minister regarding 2,500 of our military personnel who will be able to receive treatment and rehabilitation assistance in Poland. Thank you very much. I am sure that this will remain a good memory in the history of the nations," the President said.
Also, according to the Head of State, the meeting discussed the European and Euro-Atlantic perspectives for Ukraine, which Poland unequivocally supports.
Zelenskyy noted Poland's contribution as a co-author in support of the United Nations General Assembly resolution "Principles of Charter of United Nations underlying comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine."
"A total of 141 countries backed the resolution. Only six subjects are against the peace resolution, along with the terrorist state. It is a great diplomatic victory. This clearly demonstrates the margin on which Russia has found itself due to this aggression and the war, and our global efforts to protect the international legal order," the President said.
In addition, Zelenskyy and Morawiecki discussed the recovery of Ukraine, cooperation in the energy sector, and the development of railway projects between the two countries.
"During the war, powerful supply chains have been created across the Ukrainian-Polish border. It is a vital artery for our people, our economy, our state. And today, we discussed with Mr. Prime Minister what else can be done to simplify processes at the border," the President said.
"I am sure the border between Ukraine and Poland will become one of the key lanes of solidarity in Europe and the world. And we will do everything to ensure it continues to be so, so that our nations unite even more and become even stronger," Zelenskyy added.
For his part, the Prime Minister of Poland said that on February 24, 2022, Russia showed its true barbaric face.
"According to Putin's plans, this should have been the beginning of the end of Ukraine, but Ukraine is even stronger today. Ukraine was reborn on this day," he said.
Morawiecki said that he came to our country today to pay tribute to all Ukrainian heroes, the Ukrainian people who defend their homeland, as well as Poland and all of Europe.
"Kyiv today is the capital of freedom, the fortress of all free Europe," the Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland said.
Morawiecki expressed his belief that the strength of Ukrainian-Polish relations scares Russia, so hostile propaganda is trying in every possible way to harm the relations between the two nations. That is why sanctions must apply to Russian propagandists, he emphasized.
The Prime Minister of Poland said that Ukraine must definitely win this war. He said that his country was actively working on the creation of the tank coalition and was the first to transfer Leopard tanks to Ukraine.
"Today, I want to symbolically hand over to you, Volodymyr, the first four Leopard 2A4 tanks, and soon we will hand over the next ones," Morawiecki said.
In addition, the head of the Polish government said that his country is ready to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets.
"And I want to emphasize that this should always be agreed upon in the broader coalition. Poland is ready to train. It is very important that Ukrainian skies are ultimately safe," Morawiecki said.