France, Germany and Poland Vow Long-Term Support For Ukraine

 

DW: Macron, Scholz, Duda discuss Ukraine, NATO, migration  

The French president hosted the German and Polish leaders to seek ways of helping Kyiv wrest back land from Russia. Poland's premier pressed for a clearer roadmap for Ukraine to join the NATO defensive alliance. 

French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday welcomed German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Polish leader Andrzej Duda, with the Polish prime minister pressing the case for Ukraine to gain NATO membership. 

The three gathered to talk about military support for Kyiv's counteroffensive and humanitarian aid to the country after the breach of the Kherson region's Kakhovka dam. 

 "We have done everything to help it," Macron said of Ukraine's counteroffensive. "We have intensified the delivery of ammunition, weapons, and armored vehicles... We will continue in coming days and weeks."  

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France, Germany and Poland Vow Long-Term Support For Ukraine  

France, Germany and Poland back Ukraine's counteroffensive in a show of unity -- AP  

Ukraine Counteroffensive: Macron Eyes Negotiation Phase -- Bloomberg  

Ukraine war: France's Macron promises more military aid to Kyiv as counteroffensive begins -- WION  

France, Germany and Poland to back Kiyv's counteroffensive in show of unity -- Republic world  

Polish President Pushes for Ukraine's NATO Membership At Paris Talks -- RFE

Germany Approves Poland’s Request To Send 5 Mig-29 Jets To Ukraine

 

DW: Germany approves Polish request to send Ukraine 5 MiG jets  

Germany has given its permission for formerly East German MiG fighter jets to be sent on to Ukraine. The swift approval comes just hours after Berlin said that it had received the application. 

Poland's formal request to Germany for permission to send five Cold War-era MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine has been given the green light, the German Defense Ministry confirmed on Thursday. 

According to German rules, the weapons that it sells require approval from Berlin if the receiving country wants to send them on to a third country. 

"I welcome the fact that we in the federal government have reached this decision together," Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said after the decision was made in Berlin. "This shows Germany can be relied on!"  

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WNU Editor: It was only a few months ago that German Chancellor Scholz was adamant in saying that "there will be no fighter jet deliveries to Ukraine." 

 Germany Approves Poland’s Request To Send 5 Mig-29 Jets To Ukraine  

Germany allows Poland to export old fighter jets to Ukraine -- Reuters  

Germany Allows Polish Export of MiG 29 Fighter Jets to Ukraine -- Bloomberg 

Germany approves Poland’s request to send old fighter jets to Ukraine -- Politico  

Poland bid to re-export MiG-29s to Ukraine wins quick German approval -- Defense News  

Germany approves Poland’s request to send MiG-29 jets to Ukraine -- Al Jazeera  

Germany Approves Poland’s Request to Send MiG-29 Fighter Jets to Ukraine -- Antiwar.com

Tensions Between Germany And Poland Grow Over Supplying Weapons To Ukraine

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki 

Bloomberg: Polish-German Tensions Expose Crack in Unified Ukraine Front 

(Bloomberg) -- As NATO allies make a show of unity in support of Ukraine, a rift between Germany and Poland risks undermining a joint effort to supply Kyiv’s forces. 

Quarreling in Warsaw and Berlin over missiles, tanks and spare parts has reached a new level, even as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy calls on western backers to “hurry up” in delivering armaments before any spring offensive gets underway. 

Polish leaders are now losing no opportunity to take aim at Berlin, a familiar target. Recently the accusations have focused on foot-dragging on sending battle tanks to the front — which triggered a threat to send German-made armor without Berlin’s approval. 

After Chancellor Olaf Scholz gave the green light to send state-of-the-art Leopard tanks — for which Poland took much of the credit — the Poles charged that the older-model Leopards they had committed to send will be of limited use without spare parts from Germany.  

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WNU Editor: Even in the best of times German - Polish relations are difficult. The fact that they are not on the same page when it comes to giving aid to Ukraine does not surprise me.

German Foreign Minister Says Berlin Will Not Stand In The Way If Poland Decides To Send Leopard 2 Tanks To Ukraine

 

DW: Germany will not keep Poland from sending tanks to Ukraine 

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Berlin would not stand in the way if Poland decides to send Leopard tanks to Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron did not rule out sending heavy tanks to Ukraine. 

Germany would not stand in the way if Poland sent its German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Sunday in an interview with French television LCI. 

Asked what would happen if Poland went ahead and sent its Leopard 2 tanks without German approval, Baerbock said: "For the moment the question has not been asked, but if we were asked we would not stand in the way."  

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WNU Editor: This German announcement was made just after the Polish Prime Minister said they were going to send these tanks with or without Germany's involvement .... Poland ready to build ‘smaller coalition’ to send tanks to Ukraine without Germany (Politico). 

German Foreign Minister Says Berlin Will Not Stand In The Way If Poland Decides To Send Leopard 2 Tanks To Ukraine 

In breakthrough, minister says Germany won’t block Poland from giving Ukraine tanks -- AP 

Germany would not block Poland from sending tanks to Ukraine, minister says -- Reuters  

Germany ‘would not stand in way’ of Poland sending tanks to Ukraine, says minister -- The Guardian  

Germany ready to let Poland send Leopard tanks to Ukraine: foreign minister -- Politico 

Germany would not block Poland sending tanks to Ukraine: Minister -- Al Jazeera

Poland Says Germany Refuses To Talk World War II Reparations

FILE PHOTO: German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and his Polish counterpart Jacek Czaputowicz pay respect at the Wall of Rememberence as they commemorate the 75th anniversary of Warsaw Uprising at Warsaw Rising Museum in Warsaw © Thomson Reuters  

Reuters: Poland says Germany refused talks on World War Two reparations 

WARSAW (Reuters) -Germany has rebuffed the latest push by Poland's nationalist government for vast reparations over World War Two, saying in response to a diplomatic note that the issue was closed, the foreign ministry in Warsaw said on Tuesday. 

A spokesperson for the German foreign ministry said it had responded to a letter sent by Poland on the subject in October and did not comment on the contents of diplomatic correspondence. 

Poland estimates its World War Two losses caused by Germany at 6.2 trillion zlotys ($1.4 trillion) and has demanded reparations, but Berlin has repeatedly said all financial claims related to the war have been settled.  

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Update #1: Poland asks UN to step in as it pushes Germany for WWII reparations (FOX News)  

Update #2: Germany snubs Poland's claim for World War 2 reparations (Euronews)  

WNU Editor: As if the UN is going to help .... Germany refuses WWII reparations talks, Poland turns to UN (AP).

Poland Accepts Germany's Offer To Deploy Patriot Missile Systems Near The Ukraine Border

German Air Force’s Patriot air defense missile system are deployed to Slovakia. (Bundeswehr / Tom Twardy)  

Breaking Defense: After missile scare, Poland accepts German offer for Patriot defenses 

Christian Thiels, a spokesman for the German Ministry of National Defense, said that assistance for Poland could be provided at any time, including with Eurofighters, though the details are still being sorted out. 

WARSAW — Poland today accepted an offer from Germany to deploy additional Patriot air defense systems there, following the deaths of two Polish civilians who were likely struck by an errant missile during a Russian barrage of Ukrainian cities. 

“With satisfaction, I accepted the proposal of the German Minister of Defense to deploy additional Patriot missile launchers in our country,” Mariusz Błaszczak, Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense, wrote early this morning on social media. 

“During today’s telephone talks with the German side, I will suggest that the system should be located at the border with Ukraine.”  

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WNU Editor: No specifics on the deployment, but since each Patriot unit requires 90 personnel to operate it, I can assume they will be German. 

Yup. German soldiers on Polish soil. 

But my big worry is that from the Kremlin's point of view, they will see this deployment as the first step by NATO to shoot down Russian missiles and aircraft in eastern Ukraine. And heaven help us all if that happens. 

Poland Accepts Germany's Offer To Deploy Patriot Missile Systems Near The Ukraine Border  

Germany offers Poland Patriot missiles to defend airspace -- AP  

Poland accepts Germany’s Patriot offer after fatal missile strike -- Defense News  

Germany to supply Poland with Patriot air defence system -- Brussels Times  

Patriot missiles for Poland: What purpose do they serve? -- DW

Germany Tells Poland The Issue Of WWII Reparations Is Closed

Polish Foreign minister Zbigniew Rau and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock  

Politico: Germany says issue of WWII reparations for Poland ‘closed’  

During visit to Warsaw, Annalena Baerbock rejects demand for €1.3T. 

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Tuesday the topic of reparations for the wartime occupation of Poland is “closed from the perspective of the German government.” 

Speaking in Warsaw at a joint press conference with her Polish counterpart Zbigniew Rau, Baerbock said, however, that Germany stands by its historical responsibilities “without ifs and buts.”  

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WNU Editor: The Polish government is still hopeful that in the future a deal will be reached .... Germany's WW2 reparations stance can change, says Polish minister (Reuters). 

Germany Tells Poland The Issue Of WWII Reparations Is Closed  

Germany says issue of WWII reparations for Poland closed -- DW  

German minister tells Poland no chance for WWII reparations as Warsaw seeks $1.3t -- Times of Israel/AP  

Germany says Poland World War II reparations 'a closed issue' -- UPI  

Germany responds to Poland’s $1.2 trillion reparation demand -- RT

Poland Seeks €1.3 Trillion From Germany In WWII Reparations

 

Euronews: Poland to demand €1.3 trillion from Germany in WWII reparations  

The Polish government on Thursday estimated the financial cost of World War II losses under Nazi occupation at €1.3 trillion and said it would "ask Germany to negotiate these reparations". 

"It's a significant sum of 6.2 trillion" zlotys, Deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, leader of the ruling Law and Justice party, told a conference. 

He added the process of Poland's getting the reparations would be "long and difficult".  

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Poland Seeks €1.3 Trillion From Germany In WWII Reparations 

Poland puts its WW2 losses at $1.3 trillion, demands German reparations -- Reuters  

Poland to demand $1.3 trillion in WWII reparations from Germany -- CBS/AP  

Poland says WWII losses caused by Germany worth $1.3 trillion -- DW  

Poland to sue Germany for €1.3 trillion over WWII -- RTE 

Poland specifies will seek $1.3 trillion in WWII reparations from Germany -- Times of Israel  

Poland names amount of WWII reparations it seeks -- RT  

Poland plans to seek $1.3 trillion in reparations from Germany for WWII -- Axios

German President Asks For World War II Forgiveness From Poland

CNN: German President asks for forgiveness 80 years after start of World War II

Germany's President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has asked for Poland's forgiveness 80 years after the start of World War II.

"I stand before you, those who have survived, before the descendants of the victims, the old and the young residents of Wielun, I am humbled and grateful," Steinmeier said during a ceremony in the Polish city of Wielun, the site of one of the first Nazi bombings in the country on September 1, 1939.

"I bow to the victims of the attack in Wielun, I pay tribute to the Polish victims of German tyranny and I ask for forgiveness," he said.

Nearly 6 million Poles died during World War II, which remains the bloodiest conflict in history.

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WNU Editor: There are some things that you cannot never forget or forgive.

Polish Official Says Germany Owes Poland $850 Billion In War Reparations

© Photo: Pixabay

Reuters: Polish lawmaker: due reparations from Germany could stand at $850 billion

WARSAW (Reuters) - Warsaw has the right to demand reparations from Germany potentially worth $850 billion for destroyed property and people killed during World War Two, the politician in charge of reparations said on Friday.

The Polish ruling Law and Justice party (PiS) has revived the issue of war reparations at a time when Israeli politicians accuse it of attempting to whitewash the role of Poles in German war crimes against Jews during the conflict.

German parliamentary legal experts said last year that Warsaw had no right to demand reparations.

The Polish government stopped short of making a direct claim to Germany but the issue could lead to tensions between the two EU governments, analysts say. Germany is Poland’s largest trade partner and Poland is the biggest recipient of EU aid.

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WNU Editor: Not going to happen.

More News On Reports That Poland Wants $850 Billion In War Reparations From Germany

Polish Official: Germany Owes Poland $850 Billion for WWII -- US News and World Report/AP
`Germany owes Poland £600bn for Second World War damage´ -- Press Association
Polish official: Germany may owe us $850 billion for WWII war crimes -- Times Of Israel
Poland Says Germany Could Owe $850 Billion in World War Reparations -- Newsweek

76 Years Later German Tanks 'Roll Back' Into Poland

Troops from the US and Europe are taking part in exercises as Russia flexes its muscles (Sergeant Paul Peterson )

Sunday Times: German tanks roll back into Poland

THE tiny Polish town of Swietoszow did not officially exist during the Cold War; as home to a massive but secret Soviet tank force ready to strike at the West, it was removed from all public maps and records.

Last week Nato used the base for the first big deployment of a new special force to defend eastern Europe from an increasingly expansionist Russia.

American Black Hawk helicopters thundered in the skies as German tanks rolled from across the nearby border, along with troops and hardware from seven other nations that make up Nato’s Spearhead Force, which was set up last year in response to Russia’s intervention in Ukraine.

WNU Editor: This story is behind a subscription wall, but what I find interesting about it is that 76 years later .... what started a World War is now .... a normal training exercise. On a side note this exercise is revealing some major differences between Germany and Poland on the placement of NATO bases in Poland. Germany says (correctly in my opinion) that establishing NATO military bases in former communist countries in eastern Europe would violate a 1997 NATO agreement with Russia, but Poland is disagreeing .... Germany must accept NATO bases in Poland - president-elect's aide (Channel News Asia).