Poland is ready to transfer 60 modernized tanks, 14 Leopard 2 to Ukraine - PM Morawiecki

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said this in an interview with CTV News.

“We try to lead by example. Poland sent 250 tanks as the first country half a year ago or even more than that. Right now, we are ready to send 60 of our modernized tanks, 30 of them PT-91. And on top of those tanks, 14 tanks, Leopard 2 tanks, from our possession. And we have said to our partners in Western Europe how many tanks we've already delivered, and I have quoted President Zelenskyy (to explain) how important it is in this kind of war to have modern tanks. Russians have several thousands, or some say even more than 15,000, of the tanks in their stores,” Morawiecki said.

The Polish prime minister emphasized to the partner countries that if they do not want Ukraine to fail, they must be very open and bold in their support.

“These were the arguments and also if Ukraine, God forbid, fails in defending their sovereignty and freedom, it would mean only the first step in the Kremlin's mad strategy to rebuild the Russian Empire from the past. And I think if Europe wants to have stable and long term growth, stability and development in a peaceful way, we have to fend off all those barbaric attacks by the Russians,” the prime minister said.

Morawiecki added that Russia may have several thousand tanks, and according to some reports, even 15,000: “If we don't want Ukraine to be defeated, we have to be very much open and brave in supporting Ukraine.”

Also, regarding German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's statements that the supply of tanks could be seen by Russia as an escalation, the Polish prime minister said: “Russia's weapon is fear. Our weapon should be and has to be solidarity.”

• On January 25, it became known that Ukraine would receive 14 Leopard 2 tanks from the Bundeswehr. Berlin also allowed partner countries to provide Ukrainian defenders with German tanks from their own stocks. On the same day, Joe Biden officially announced the delivery of 31 American-made M1 Abrams tanks and other equipment to Ukraine.

• Biden also said that the United States, together with its allies, would provide Ukraine with artillery systems, ammunition, and air defense systems. 

• On January 26, Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand announced that her country would provide four Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.