The more Leopards Poland offers for Ukraine, the clearer the commitment becomes, stated Presidential Minister Marcin Przydacz, head of the International Policy Bureau, in a Radio ZET interview with Bogdan Rymanowski, touching on the topic of delivering tanks to Ukraine.
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Tanks for Ukraine
Recall that on Wednesday, January 11, President Andrzej Duda announced in Lviv that Poland had decided to transfer a company of Leopard tanks (10–14 units) to Ukraine as part of building an international coalition on this issue. He stressed that the aim is to create a broad international coalition. He noted that what matters is the total number of tanks in the coalition, forming a capable brigade battlegroup when combined.
On January 13, the head of the president’s cabinet, Paweł Szrot, declared that such a coalition already exists and includes Finland and Denmark—countries that also operate Leopards in their armed forces. Spain, Norway, Sweden, and Germany are mentioned in this context as well.
Since Leopards are manufactured by Germany, it is important that Berlin agrees to transfer them to a non-NATO country. German Vice-Chancellor and Green Party Minister of Economic Affairs Robert Habeck said Germany “must not stand in the way of this issue.” The talks were announced in Berlin on Monday by Prime Minister Morawiecki.
Support for delivering modern tanks to Ukraine was also voiced by the Pentagon and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that Britain would donate Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine.
Przydacz emphasized that Poland is ready to hand over the tanks “as a good example,” but Ukraine would need “dozens, even hundreds of units.”
The NATO Secretary General highlighted that this is a crucial phase of the war and that such equipment is urgently needed. It is not about making a gesture of fun, but about preparing for a possible second Russian offensive. Russian troops are reportedly training in Belarus, including units from the Belarusian army. While the exact timing cannot be disclosed publicly, the expectation is that an attack could occur soon. If Ukraine does not defend itself, the consequences could be unpredictable.
Przydacz added that Poland helps Ukraine so that “Russia stays within its borders, and not just in Brest, but so that Russians are not in Lviv or Lutsk, near the Polish border.”
Asked whether Leopards for Ukraine are not merely a drop in the bucket of its needs, the minister explained that this is far from a small gesture. With this equipment, Ukraine defended its independence and launched a counteroffensive, regaining Kherson and parts of Kharkiv Oblast. He cautioned that such aid alone is not sufficient for Ukraine.
The Chancellor of Germany
When asked whether Chancellor Olaf Scholz once met a Polish admirer while jogging who thanked him for not letting the Polish government push him around, Przydacz said it would be hard to “undermine the memory of the chancellor.”
He suggested PR may drive some narratives. Poles largely support aid to Ukraine, and Scholz was certainly not a supporter of President Duda, Przydacz observed.
— noted Marcin Przydacz.
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Amendment of the law on the Supreme Court
The discussion also touched on changes to the law governing the Supreme Court. When asked about President Andrzej Duda’s actions, Przydacz stated that the president has his own view on specific provisions. The form of this stance would be revealed to the president’s office in due course, he added. He explained which provisions were problematic.
Topics included shifting disciplinary powers from the Supreme Court to the Supreme Administrative Court, the impartiality test, and the potential weakening of the status of judges appointed after 2016.
— said the minister, adding that the law should not destabilize the justice system, but that President Duda considers the law through the lens of the Polish state’s interests and the positive effects it could bring.
Does the president feel betrayed by the EC?
Asked whether the president has lost confidence in Ursula von der Leyen, the minister stressed that trust was eroded in the spring when certain decisions were made under pressure from the European Commission during parliamentary deliberations. He explained that the commission’s changes were prompted by political pressure from the European Parliament with much involvement from the Polish opposition, which does not serve Poland’s interests.
Discussions with the Commission occurred during the legislative process, and while minor corrections were acknowledged, the law in its framework largely aligned with prior talks and arrangements. He argued that a single area saw changes, yet such changes should not trigger a radical reaction from the European Commission. He emphasized that the commission did not alter its stance due to Polish rule changes, but due to political pressure that affected its stance.
— said Marcin Przydacz in “Guest of Radio Zet.”
The case of Andrzej Poczobut
The conversation also covered the ongoing case of Andrzej Poczobut, a journalist and activist from the Polish minority in Belarus. Przydacz asserted that this issue has involved Polish diplomatic efforts for many months, including attempts to free other Polish activists from the Union of Poles in Belarus. Three Polish activists were brought back to Poland, and Angelika Borys was released from prison. Regarding Poczobut, Przydacz described him as a Belarusian citizen who is a Polish patriot concerned with Polish identity, language, and history in Belarus. Belarusian authorities, according to him, are relentless, but efforts will continue to advocate for Poczobut.
— emphasized the presidential minister and added that informal talks with Belarus are taking place, though he would not disclose details. He noted that current Polish–Belarusian relations are limited and not at the highest political level.
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wkt/Radio ZET