Addressing lawmakers in parliament, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said all equipment purchased through the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) mechanism would be used exclusively by Poland's armed forces.
'No equipment will go to Ukraine'
"No equipment will go to Ukraine," said Kosiniak-Kamysz, who also serves a deputy prime minister.
"The Armed Forces Support Fund finances purchases solely for the Polish military; that is what the law says, and that is how it will be implemented," he added, referring to a special government fund established to finance defence procurement.
His comments came amid a political dispute over Poland's participation in SAFE, an EU initiative that is expected to provide the country with about EUR 43.7 billion in loans for defence investments, primarily military equipment procurement.
Kosiniak-Kamysz said Poland had secured 63 contracts worth around PLN 120 billion (EUR 28.3 billion, USD 33 billion) with domestic defence manufacturers during the first phase of the programme at the end of May.
The government is now moving to a second stage involving joint procurement projects with partner countries, including plans to acquire aerial refuelling aircraft in cooperation with Spain and new training helicopters.
Kosiniak-Kamysz accused opposition politicians of spreading misinformation about the programme, including claims that the funding would primarily benefit German defence companies or that equipment purchased under SAFE could later be transferred to Ukraine.
He said procurement priorities had been determined by Poland's military leadership and were aimed at strengthening the country's own defence capabilities.
Kosiniak-Kamysz also addressed recent tensions in Polish-Ukrainian relations following a decision by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to name a Ukrainian special operations unit after "the Heroes of the UPA," referring to the World War II-era Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA).
The move sparked criticism in Poland, where the UPA is associated with the WWII massacres of Poles in the Volhynia and eastern Galicia regions of what was then German-occupied Poland.
Ukraine 'giving NATO time to strengthen security'
Kosiniak-Kamysz said the decision was unacceptable but added that Poland's strategic interests remained tied to Ukraine's defence against Russia.
"Today, the frontier of Poland's security lies on the Ukrainian-Russian front line," he said. "Heroes are fighting there, giving Poland and NATO time to strengthen their security."
At the same time, he said historical issues must be addressed honestly between the two countries.
'Remembrance is absolutely necessary'
"Genocide remains genocide, and remembrance is absolutely necessary," Kosiniak-Kamysz said. "But the future of Poland and Ukraine lies on the same side, not against each other."
The dispute has fuelled debate in Poland over Zelensky's state honours.
President Karol Nawrocki has criticised the Ukrainian leader's decision and said he would consider stripping him of the Order of the White Eagle, Poland's highest state decoration.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Monday called on Nawrocki and Zelensky to hold a direct and candid conversation "before emotions undermine cooperation" between the two countries.
Senior Ukrainian official Kyrylo Budanov visited Warsaw last week for talks with Polish politicians, including Kosiniak-Kamysz, amid efforts to ease tensions.
Under the SAFE programme, Poland has already received an advance payment of EUR 6.5 billion, representing 15 percent of its total allocation.
The funds are managed through the Armed Forces Support Fund operated by state development bank BGK.
The largest tranche of funding is expected to arrive later this year, according to government SAFE commissioner Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka.
The SAFE initiative provides a total of EUR 150 billion in defence financing across participating countries. Poland is the programme's largest beneficiary.
On May 8, Poland signed a loan agreement with the European Commission under the SAFE framework. The government expects that more than 10,000 Polish companies will benefit from projects financed through the programme.
SAFE is designed to help EU countries strengthen their military capabilities amid Russia's war in Ukraine and uncertainty over future US engagement in European security.
The programme also aims to reduce reliance on US-made weapons and bolster Europe's defence industry.