“I would like to thank you for your extraordinary support for Poland and your support for Poland’s security. The air and missile defence system is fundamental and the security of NATO’s eastern flank is very important to us. We cannot do this alone. We count on our allies and the UK is that cast-iron ally of Poland. The Minister has declared that the Sky Saber air and missile defence system will stay in Poland for longer. There is a decision to keep this system in Poland until the end of the year”, said Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak – Kamysz after a meeting with UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps.

At the Land Forces Training Centre in Orzysz, the defence ministers of Poland and Great Britain, Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz and Grant Shapps, discussed the development of bilateral cooperation, the situation in Ukraine and the security of NATO’s eastern flank.

The ministers also met with Polish and British soldiers taking part in the Dragon24 exercise, which is organised as part of the NATO Steadfast Defender exercise.

“We are in the middle of the Polish Dragon exercise, which is part of the NATO Steadfast Defender exercise. British soldiers are taking part in it. These exercises increase our combat capabilities and cooperation between our countries”, noted the head of the Polish defence ministry.

A total of about 20,000 soldiers and 3,500 equipment units from 10 NATO countries, including about 15,000 soldiers from Poland, are taking part in the Polish Dragon 24 exercise.

According to Władysław Kosiniak – Kamysz, the topics discussed included those concerning support for Ukraine.

“We talked about our support for Ukraine. This is a crucial issue, and we need to act quickly. Not only to talk in many formats, this is also important, but it is essential to provide ammunition for Ukraine”, emphasised Minister Kosiniak – Kamysz.

Adrian Andrzejewski