Iran Press/ Europe: "We are strengthening the Polish military and deterring a potential attacker," Mariusz Błaszczak was quoted as saying in a statement released by the ministry.
Deliveries are slated to begin later this year, with 28 tanks set to be procured for the country's armed forces.
In addition to the tanks, the contract also includes a technical support and logistics package, as well as training and ammunition for the tanks, according to the ministry.
Polish defense officials said the acquisition will allow the country's military to counter Russia's flagship T-14 Armata tanks.
The procurement will allow Warsaw to replace its outdated Soviet T-72 and PT-91 tanks with a new tracked vehicle platform.
The Polish Land Forces also operate the Leopard 2A4 and Leopard 2A5 tanks acquired from Germany.
Meanwhile, Polish officials are holding talks with their US partners to expedite the procurement of more American weapons that Poland has ordered for its military.
On March 26, during President Joe Biden's official visit to Warsaw, Polish President Andrzej Duda said he had asked his US counterpart to "accelerate as much as possible the acquisition programs currently being carried out."
"Based on the contracts concluded, we are to receive the first Patriot missile systems this year and soon the HIMARS artillery missile systems and the latest generation F-35 fighter jets," said Duda.
Poland plans to “do everything” to stop importing Russian crude by the end of 2022, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said last Wednesday. He also urged other European Union nations to follow suit and called on the bloc to impose a tax on Russian hydrocarbon imports that would penalize stragglers.
On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation in response to a request for help by the heads of the Donbas republics. He stressed that Moscow had no plans of occupying Ukrainian territories, but aimed to demilitarize and denazify the country.
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