Poland furious with German empty promises on weapons

Weapons and tanks for Kyiv : Supply ring exchange: Poles feel deceived

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The planned supply ring exchange of heavy weapons, which is supposed to support Ukraine, has already caused dissatisfaction on several occasions.  Now Poland is making serious accusations against the German Federal Government.

The Federal Government is against the delivery of heavy weapons from Bundeswehr stocks. However, they intend a "supply ring exchange" with EU and NATO partners.

“Tanks for Ukraine - but the idea of ​​​​supply ring exchanges does not seem to work out.”

Poland has sharply criticized the Federal Government in connection with the planned exchange of rings for arms deliveries to Ukraine.  Deputy Foreign Minister, Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk told Der Spiegel:

“The German promises of supply ring exchange have turned out to be deceptive manoeuvres.”

From the Polish point of view, the German offers are unacceptable, so they are now relying on the help of other NATO partners.

Poland criticizes German offer

First, the Germans offered the Poles tanks "that were older than the ones we gave Ukraine," he said. This offer was "not to be accepted".

“We have no interest in deteriorating the state of our armaments stock and training our soldiers on equipment from the 1960s.”

"A symbolic number of tanks was offered," says the Deputy Foreign Minister.  "It's hard to take this as a serious suggestion after we've delivered over 200 tanks to Ukraine in two months."

Warsaw negotiates with Washington and London

That's why Poland prefers to talk to other NATO partners "who are really willing to help us." According to him, Poland is already receiving tanks from the United States and Great Britain.

The exchange of armour in supply rings was supposed to enable quick deliveries of heavy war equipment, which is familiar to soldiers in Ukraine.  Germany had announced that it would replace or help NATO partners in the East.  However, the activity has been stagnating for weeks.  No more public information was recently given in Berlin on the exact state of affairs.

Defence Minister Lambrecht explains that the Czech Republic has "long since" handed over tanks to the Ukraine.  In supply ring exchange, Germany ensures that gaps are filled.  Negotiations are progressing with Greek and Slovakian colleagues.

When asked about Poland's criticism, Defence Minister, Christine Lambrecht (SPD) said:

“So what has to happen particularly quickly is support for Ukraine because they are fighting a courageous fight.”

Germany is providing the Panzerhaubitze 2000 and multiple rocket launchers for this purpose.   "With regard to closing gaps in states that have given up weapons to Ukraine, we are of course also in talks with industry that they must also increase capacities if at all possible."

Strack-Zimmermann: Supply ring exchange doesn't work

Poland's President Andrzej Duda has repeatedly accused Berlin of not keeping promises.  The chair of the Defence committee, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, has now brought up a direct delivery of German tanks to Ukraine.  "The idea of supply ​​ring exchange makes sense," said the FDP Defence expert of the Düsseldorf "Rheinische Post".  However, she qualified the statement:

“It's not going the way we imagined.”

Marie Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, FDP

"We then have to have the courage to admit that things aren't working the way we imagined, and should instead deliver directly to Ukraine," said Strack-Zimmermann.  Ukrainian soldiers have now "proven how quickly they can learn and use new equipment".

In the supply ring exchange procedure, eastern allies of Ukraine are to provide easy-to-operate Soviet-design tanks.  In return, Germany promised the NATO partners modern equipment as a replacement.  In addition to Poland, the Federal Government has also agreed supply ring exchange deals with the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia and Greece.