Poland’s defense minister announced on Tuesday that work was beginning “on arrangements to place” German Patriot air defense systems in Poland after Berlin refused to deploy the launchers to western Ukraine.

Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszcak had previously requested that Patriot batteries “be transferred to Ukraine and deployed at its western border” to protect the country “from further deaths and blackouts” and “increase the safety of Poles and Ukrainians.”

Germany’s Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said in late November that the Patriot air defense systems Germany offered were intended for use “on NATO territory,” and “any use outside NATO territory would require prior discussions with NATO and its allies.”

In a recent tweet published by the Polish Defense Ministry, Błaszcak said he was “disappointed to hear the decision to reject supporting Ukraine” after recent talks with his German counterpart. According to Błaszczak, Poland plans to “proceed to work on arrangements to place the launchers in Poland, implementing them into our command system.”

Source: Radio Poland

Turkey has stated that it will agree to Finland’s NATO accession – but on condition that Finland publicly announces the removal of a de facto arms embargo on Ankara.

The defense ministers of Turkey and Finland are set to meet this Thursday to discuss the question of Finland’s NATO bid, with Turkey’s Foreign Minister, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu stating that Turkey was still waiting for an official statement from Helsinki about the removal of the arms embargo.

Turkey accused Sweden and Finland of supporting the YPG, and by extension, the outlawed PKK, or Kurdistan Workers Party, after the two countries revoked existing arms export permits in 2019.

The move followed condemnation of a Turkish offensive in northeastern Syria in October of 2019, which reportedly resulted in the deaths of over 90 civilians and the displacement of hundreds of thousands more.

Sweden lifted their de facto embargo on Turkey last September, but Finland has yet to do so publicly.

Hungary and Turkey remain the only NATO member states who have not ratified the accession of Sweden and Finland into the defensive alliance.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban told reporters in Slovakia two weeks ago that “Hungary supports the NATO membership” of Finland and Sweden, and accession “will be on the agenda of the first session of parliament” in Hungary next year.

Source: Radio Poland, euronews.com

The vast majority of Poles support the planned construction of nuclear power plants in the country, according to survey data released by public polling agency CBOS this week.

Some 75 percent of respondents favored increased development of nuclear power, with only 13 percent opposing the plan and 12 percent undecided. The survey was carried out from November 7 to 17 on a representative sample of 1,038 respondents.

Last month, Poland approved plans to build its first nuclear power plant using technology from US company Westinghouse Nuclear. The USD 20 billion plant will be built “in the north of the country,” according to statements made by Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki at the time.

Morawiecki also announced that the government had greenlighted a Polish-South Korean project to build a nuclear power plant at Pątnów in western Poland. All in all, Poland plans to build a total of “six reactors in three nuclear power plants,” with the first plant set to be put into operation in 2033.

Source: Radio Poland

The University of Gdańsk recently announced that classes would be conducted remotely in December and at the start of the new year to cut down on electricity and heating costs.

From the 19 to the 22 of December, the Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of the University of Gdańsk and the Medical University of Gdańsk will hold classes online before the university closes for an extended holiday break between Christmas and the New Year.

From 2-5 of January 2023, classes for most full-time students will also be held remotely, excluding certain UG and GUMed classes, which will have lessons as usual.

According to calculations prepared by the technical and administrative departments of the university, switching students to online classes for this short period could result in electricity savings of 25-30 percent and thermal energy savings of 5-6 percent.

Source: Radio Gdańsk, PAP

Weather

Today will be mostly cloudy and cold, with a chance of snow in the afternoon and a strong breeze coming in from the west. Temperatures will be slightly colder than yesterday, with a high of 3°C, or 37°F, dropping to a low of -1°C or 31°F overnight. Colder weather is expected for tomorrow, with a chance for more snow as the week continues.

Elizabeth Peck/pb