Poland to keep EU defence funds for Army modernization

Poland will not transfer funds it receives through the European Peace Facility (EPF) to Ukraine, instead using the money to modernize its own armed forces, Polish State Secretary at the Ministry of Defence Pawel Zalewski said.

According to Zalewski, funds reimbursed to Poland through the EPF will be transferred to the Support Fund for the Modernization of the Polish Armed Forces, RMF 24 reports.

He explained that under Polish regulations, the funds can be used exclusively to finance the modernization of the country’s armed forces.

Germany, meanwhile, plans to use funds received through the EPF to provide further support to Ukraine.

Sebastian Hartmann, Parliamentary State Secretary at Germany’s Federal Ministry of Defence, said the EPF mechanism enables Berlin to allocate additional funding to Ukraine.

According to Hartmann, Ukraine will be able to identify its needs and use the available funding to address them. He described the mechanism as a positive signal for Ukraine and European unity.

Sweden has also decided to direct funds received through the EPF towards supporting Ukraine, Swedish Defence Minister Pål Jonson said.

By Vafa Guliyeva