NATO does not have ban on transfer of heavy equipment to Ukraine, - Ambassador of Poland to Alliance, Shatkowski
There is no agreement in NATO that prohibits the transfer of modern tanks, missile defense/air defense systems and other heavy equipment to Ukraine.
As reported by Censor.NET with reference to LIGA.net, this was stated by Polish Ambassador to NATO Tomasz Szatkowski.
"In the public space, from public speakers in Berlin, we often heard in recent months that there is some kind of agreement between NATO members that, for example, heavy equipment should not be transferred, and then - that tanks should not be transferred, then - "maybe tanks and it is possible, but not of Western production"... This is absolutely false," the diplomat explained.
Also, "it was a surprise to assume", the ambassador noted, that it is the Alliance that should decide, and not Berlin alone, whether to give Patriot anti-aircraft batteries to the military of Ukraine.
Shatkowski recalled the words of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who said that in some cases it is more important for the security of the member states of the Alliance to transfer equipment and ammunition to Ukraine than to accumulate them in their own warehouses.
Meanwhile, Shatkowski described the situation in NATO regarding military support to Ukraine as "Schrödinger's cat": "On the one hand, there is a discussion, it (help. - Ed.) is encouraged by the Secretary-General, and on the other hand there is a veto of some countries, opposition, and reluctance."
At the same time, the attitude of some countries towards the support of the Armed Forces is changing for the better, the ambassador noted, pointing out that "a positive transformation has taken place" with part of the allies in the south of Europe.
Shatkowski also noted that France, which is often criticized, is generally the only country, apart from Poland, that supplies the Armed Forces with entire artillery systems: "It means not only what shoots, but also the fire control system, effective ammunition."
