Poland does not plan to send troops to Ukraine: President

WARSAW

Polish President Andrzej Duda said Wednesday his country does not plan to send troops to support Ukraine in its war with Russia.

"Polish soldiers will not go to Ukraine to fight," Duda said after a meeting of the Polish National Security Council.

He warned his country about disinformation, saying: "Do not believe such unfounded news as 'Poland wants to join the war, Polish soldiers will be sent to war.'”

“Of course, if it is necessary to defend our country, we will defend it. But there is no indication that we will be attacked,” he said.

Duda also denied allegations that irregular migrants, who previously tried to cross the Belarusian border into Poland, were now trying to get into the country via Ukraine.

More than 2,000 civilians have been killed since Russia launched its war on Ukraine on Feb. 24, according to Ukrainian authorities, while the UN Refugee Agency estimates more than 874,000 people have fled Ukraine to neighboring countries.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, 498 Russian soldiers have been killed and 1,597 wounded in the fighting.

More than 2,870 Ukrainian soldiers and “nationalists” have also been killed, the ministry said Wednesday.

*Writing by Merve Berker