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Jarosław Kaczyński during a visit to Kyiv in mid-March: »Soldiers from nuclear power America give us the most security«
Photo: IMAGO/Ukraine Presidency/Ukraine Presi/IMAGO/ZUMA Wire
Poland's deputy prime minister has criticized the government's policy on the Ukraine war.
"I am very dissatisfied with the behavior of the German government," said Jarosław Kaczyński, who is also chairman of the national conservative PiS party, to the "Welt am Sonntag".
»Germany could supply more weapons.
And Germany could speak out in favor of an oil embargo in the EU.«
Kaczyński said he was not referring to a gas embargo as it would take more time.
Oil deliveries could be replaced, but that was more difficult with natural gas.
"You can't constantly support a great power like Russia with billions in payments from the purchase of energy." That is "inadmissible from a political and moral point of view."
“Germany should finally take a clear stance on this.”
Kaczyński was open to stationing American nuclear weapons in his country: »If the Americans asked us to store US nuclear weapons in Poland, we would be open to that.
It would significantly increase the deterrent against Moscow.« At the moment this question does not arise, »but that may change soon«.
The initiative should come from the Americans, he said.
But in principle it makes sense to extend nuclear sharing to NATO's eastern flank.
According to Kaczyński, Poland would also welcome it if the Americans increased their presence in Europe from the current 100,000 soldiers to 150,000 soldiers.
In his view, 75,000 of these soldiers should be permanently stationed on the eastern flank, i.e. on the borders with Russia, and 50,000 soldiers in the Baltic States and Poland alone.
He said: "Soldiers from the nuclear power America are the strongest deterrents to Russia from attacking the NATO countries and give us the most security."
All in all, NATO should do more in the Ukraine war, said Kaczyński.
“First, conduct a peacekeeping mission.
Of course, that would only work with the consent of Ukraine.
Secondly, the NATO countries should finally deliver the weapons that (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelenskyy is strenuously asking for.«
More than 2.4 million people who have fled Ukraine are currently living in Poland – more than in any other country in the European Union.
The EU has imposed unprecedented sanctions since Russia invaded Ukraine, as have other Western states.
lov/AFP/dpa/Reuters