Polish Sejm speaker defends supplying Ukraine with Patriot missiles

Polish Sejm Speaker Wlodzimierz Czarzasty defended the recent transfer of five Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine, dismissing public outrage over the move as "absurd." Czarzasty made the comments in an interview on TVN24, criticizing what he called "irresponsible political agitation" over the decision. He questioned why people were so upset, asking "How many irresponsible Polish politicians have sparred over this?"

Czarzasty argued that support for Ukraine was in Poland's best interest, pointing out that the country provides financial and military aid to its neighbor. He noted that Ukrainians who work in Poland make up 5 percent of the workforce and contribute 2.7 percent to the country's GDP. Czarzasty also highlighted the significant financial contributions Ukrainians make to Poland, including PLN25 billion ($6.76 billion) in personal income tax, PLN13 billion in Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) contributions, and PLN3.8 billion to the National Health Fund (NFZ).

He emphasized that Poland's health-care costs for Ukrainians amounted to PLN2.3 billion. Czarzasty questioned the motives behind spreading "foolish stories" that Poland was "robbing Poles and giving everything to Ukrainians," urging his audience to not let themselves be manipulated.