(Reuters) – Poland is interested in purchasing several MQ-9Reaper drones from America under a special, accelerated process. This comes amid growing security concerns, three weeks after a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In an interview Wednesday, Lieutenant Colonel Krzysztof Platek, spokesperson for Poland’s Defence Ministry’s Armament Agency said that they are urgently looking to procure MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial system… They are discussing delivery of multiple sets.”

Parallely, Poland is working on the Zefir programme, under which unmanned aerial vehicle (UAVs), of MALE class, is being purchased. Platek did not specify the drones that might be ordered.

Poland expects the delivery of its first drones before the year ends. Ministry officials did not disclose the value of the acquisition.

Platek stated that the order was an answer to “security situation”, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe. He was referring to Ukraine’s war, which is Europe’s largest since World War Two.

Moscow calls it a “special military operations” that “denazifies” Ukraine. Since the invasion began on February 24, some Ukrainian cities were destroyed. More than 3,000,000 Ukrainians fled to other countries.

While both sides claimed that there had been progress in the ceasefire talks, which were scheduled to resume on Wednesday afternoon, there has not yet been a deal.

Poland purchased 24 Bayraktar drones made in Turkey last May. This was the first NATO member country to purchase Turkish-made UAVs. Ukraine used the same drones to fight invading Russian military forces.