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Poland declined Ukraine’s request for South Korean weapons transfer

Published: 26 Oct. 2024, 08:40

Polish President Andrzej Duda speaks during a joint press conference with President Yoon Suk Yeol, not pictured, at the Presidential Office in Seoul, South Korea, on Oct. 24. [EPA/YONHAP]

Polish President Andrzej Duda said his government has declined Ukraine's request to transfer weapons Poland purchased from South Korea, according to news reports Friday.

Duda made the remark during a meeting with reporters during his state visit to South Korea, Polish news portal RMF24 reported.

"There is no scenario under consideration in which we hand over weapons, which we have recently purchased for billions of [Polish] zloty from the pockets of our taxpayers, to anyone. These weapons are to serve the security and defense of Poland," Duda was quoted as saying.

Even if Seoul agrees to transfer weapons to Ukraine, Duda said they will not come from the stockpiles allocated to Poland, according to the report.

On the last day of his four-day state visit Friday, Duda toured Hanwha Aerospace, which produces K9 self-propelled howitzers, and Hyundai Rotem, the manufacturer of K2 tanks, both located in Changwon, about 400 kilometers (249 miles) southeast of Seoul.

During Thursday's summit with Duda, President Yoon Suk Yeol said South Korea could consider providing arms to Ukraine, depending on the extent of military cooperation between Russia and North Korea.

Yoon also pledged support for South Korea's efforts to sign an additional deal with Poland to supply K2 tanks by the end of the year, estimated at around $7 billion.

In 2022, Poland signed major defense contracts with South Korea, valued at 17 trillion won ($12.4 billion), to purchase K2 tanks, K9 self-propelled howitzers, FA-50 light attack aircraft and Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers to bolster its military capabilities amid the Russia-Ukraine war.

Following the initial agreements, Poland signed a $2.67 billion deal for K9 howitzers in December 2023 and a $1.64 billion agreement for Chunmoo rocket systems in April.