Mariusz Błaszczak made the statement after a meeting with his Slovak counterpart Jaroslav Nad’ in Bratislava, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Polish military aid to Ukraine
At a joint news conference with his host, Błaszczak said that Ukraine was "fighting not just for its own independence, but also for the freedom and security of all of Europe.”
He added: “We are providing significant support to Ukraine, including military support.”
As examples, he mentioned “drones, the Piorun (Thunderbolt) man-portable air-defence systems and specialist ammunition.”
His words came in the wake of media reports that Poland had delivered more than 200 tanks to its eastern neighbour.
'An independent Ukraine is in our national interest'
Błaszczak warned in Bratislava: “If Putin defeats Ukraine, he won’t stop, he will go further."
He stated: "An independent Ukraine is in our national interest.”
He added: “The independence of Ukraine is a guarantee of Polish independence.”
Poland to help protect Slovak skies
Błaszczak and Nad’ announced that “a pair of Polish fighter planes will help patrol Slovak airspace.”
The deal lasts until 2024, when Slovakia is due to receive its own US-produced F-16 fighter aircraft, reporters were told.
Błaszczak said that Poland and its southern neighbour Slovakia, a fellow European Union and NATO member, were forging “ever closer links” and working together "to build up their defence capabilities.”
Mutual support for Ukraine
Meanwhile, Slovakia's Nad’ said in a tweet that he and Błaszczak discussed an "ongoing mutual effort to support Ukraine.”
Friday was day 65 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Poland's President Andrzej Duda said earlier this week that his country has supplied around PLN 7 billion (EUR 1.5 billion) worth of military aid to Ukraine since Russia invaded in late February.
(pm/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP, gov.pl