Poland is proposing to host a Patriot missile production facility for Ukraine, Polish Deputy Defense Minister Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka announced on 27/9. "We will observe upcoming developments. If a factory is planned for Ukraine, we propose locating it in Poland, in what could be called a safe zone," she told RMF24 radio. This offer follows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's announcement on 22/9 that US President Donald Trump had made a final decision to grant Ukraine a license to independently produce Patriot missiles, a decision reached during their meeting in New York.

Separately, Deputy Minister Sobkowiak-Czarnecka confirmed Poland's own efforts to expand its Patriot capabilities. Warsaw has already submitted an application to establish a maintenance center and aims to produce Patriot missiles independently. This path is distinct from and unaffected by the US decision regarding Ukraine's production license.

Ukraine's immediate need for air defense systems remains critical. Ukrainian Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara stated earlier in September that Kyiv is signing contracts to acquire approximately 1,000 Patriot missiles, though delivery will take time. Consequently, Ukraine requires missiles from existing partner stockpiles before winter. According to Ukrainska Pravda, the US government is also preparing to authorize the transfer of 10 Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine, following Germany's proposal.

A Patriot air defense system during an exercise at Warsaw Babice airport, Poland, 2/2023. *AFP*

Poland has repeatedly expressed its readiness to expand Patriot production cooperation. In late August, Deputy Defense Minister Pawel Zalewski affirmed the country's sufficient production capacity and readiness to manufacture PAC-3 interceptor missiles for the Patriot system. This comes as Poland increases military cooperation with the US amid growing concerns about Russia. Russian missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles have repeatedly entered Polish airspace over more than four years of conflict in Ukraine. On 13/9, a Kyiv-Warsaw passenger train was attacked in western Ukraine, approximately 2 km from the Polish border.

Further underscoring its commitment to regional security, Polish parliamentarians are advocating for the construction of a new military base in western Poland. This base is expected to accommodate at least 5,000 US military personnel and their families. Deputy Minister Sobkowiak-Czarnecka emphasized the need for a special law to expedite its construction and define ministerial authority, stating, "building a base is essentially building a miniature city."

Thanh Danh (According to Kyiv Post, Ukrinform, Ukrainska Pravda)