Poland, Germany agree to increase military aid to Ukraine

Poland and Germany have agreed to cooperate to strengthen assistance to Ukraine, including in the military sphere.

That's according to the German-Polish Action Plan that was adopted after intergovernmental consultations held in Warsaw on July 2, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"Poland and Germany will work together to increase practical military support of Ukraine," the document states.

In particular, both countries will engage in the establishment of the NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis Training and Education Centre (JATEC) in Bydgoszcz. They also intend to cooperate within the framework of the capability coalitions that support Ukraine.

"We will cooperate to ensure the new role of NATO in coordinating support for Ukraine as well as the related EU toolbox (Ukrainian Assistance Fund/UAF, EU Military Assistance Mission/EUMAM, joint procurement initiatives) are effective," the document says.

In addition, Warsaw and Berlin will closely coordinate their military support for Ukraine nationally and within established international fora, such as the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) and the framework of EU instruments.

"We will seek cooperation wherever it makes sense. This will apply across the entire spectrum of our support, including the delivery of equipment, training and maintenance," the German-Polish Action Plan states.

According to the document, the parties will continue deepening their cooperation at the governmental level in the process of providing military support to Ukraine, among others, exchanging experience of technical support of repairs of Leopard 2 tanks delivered to Ukraine.

"Germany and Poland will also strive to optimize repair and maintenance of Leopard 2 tanks in the context of Ukrainian needs resulting from Russia's illegal war of aggression," the document states.

The joint action plan says that Russia's unprovoked, illegal war of aggression against Ukraine and the threat it constitutes for the security of the Euro-Atlantic zone is "one of the biggest tests of our generation."

"Therefore, we must prevent a failure in our response as it would go far beyond Ukraine. To counter this, we will enhance our cooperation on the options and scope of our response to the challenges stemming from Russia's aggression against Ukraine, both bilaterally and within the framework of the EU and NATO," both countries said.

According to Warsaw and Berlin, Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine "has fundamentally transformed our relations with Moscow."

"Russia is the most direct threat to Euro-Atlantic security," the document states.

Poland and Germany will remain committed to maintain and rigorously implement and enforce sanctions on Russia and "to jointly prepare proposals for new restrictive measures where appropriate as long as Russia does not cease its aggression against Ukraine." In addition, both countries are "determined" to use the extraordinary revenues stemming from immobilized Russian Sovereign Assets to continue to support Ukraine in all dimensions.

Both countries also welcome the formal opening of accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova and will support the opening of the fundamentals' negotiating clusters with both countries, without unnecessary delays.

The document emphasizes that NATO will support Ukraine in making necessary reforms on its path towards future membership.

Intergovernmental consultations were held in Warsaw on July 2 with the participation of Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.