Ukraine seeks Polish loan to buy Piorun MANPADS and Krab howitzers
Krab self-propelled gun (photo by Patryk Cieliński, Combat Camera Poland)

Ukraine is in talks with Poland to secure a €120 million loan to purchase Polish defense equipment, including Piorun man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS) and Krab self-propelled howitzers. This was announced by Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha in an interview with Ukrinform.

Sybiha emphasized that the Piorun systems have proven highly effective on the battlefield, while Polish self-propelled artillery has also demonstrated strong performance.

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"This was one of the topics discussed with Minister Sikorski — the possibility of obtaining a loan. With this financing, we are prepared to purchase Polish-made defense products. Poland has a strong tradition in defense manufacturing, and we are open to further cooperation. Ukraine is genuinely interested in this," Sybiha said.

The meeting with Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski took place on August 1 in Poland.

According to Sybiha, the loan under discussion could total €120 million.

"Obviously, no country at war ever has enough weapons. That’s why we’re also talking about co-production — both in Ukraine and Poland. This is a shared interest, mutually beneficial, and a contribution to our joint future," he added.

  • Following the meeting, Sikorski reaffirmed Poland’s support for Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression, noting that it aligns with Poland’s national interest.
  • Separately, on July 31, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held his first phone call with Karol Nawrocki, who is set to assume the Polish presidency on August 6. The two leaders agreed to arrange mutual visits.