Duda criticized Ukraine and its allies and threatened to close the Rzeszów airbase used for delivering military aid

Outgoing Polish President Andrzej Duda has criticized Ukraine and its Western allies for what he sees as entitlement to use Poland’s Rzeszów military air base, a key logistical hub for delivering military aid to Ukraine.

He even threatened to shut it down for such use, as reported by Polsat News.

“I believe there were moments when we should have shown that we cannot be bypassed or ignored. But we didn’t — and that was a mistake. For example, I think both Ukrainians and our allies behave as if the Rzeszów airport and our highways belong to them, as if they were theirs. But they’re not. They are ours. So if someone doesn’t like that, we’ll close it — goodbye. Yes, we’re doing renovations. We’ll shut down the Rzeszów airport, and you can deliver aid to Ukraine by sea, by air — I don’t know — drop it by parachute. Be creative, if you think you don’t need us,” Duda said.

He also noted that Poland wasn’t even invited to certain key international bodies where decisions were being made about transporting aid through Polish territory.

“I thought that was a scandal. And I will openly admit that at one point, I blocked the conclusion of the NATO summit in Vilnius over this issue. This is not something to be discussed with Ukraine — but with our allies. You have to have the courage to talk to the Germans, the Americans,” Duda added.