MP Nikolai Kniazicki says one should not assume that the official Warsaw view reflects the views of all Poles. There is an opposition that gives absolute support to Ukraine and half of Poland is behind it
Poland’s interest is in Ukraine’s victory and our help. Statements of officials and the opposition regarding relations with Ukraine.
The degree of emotionality in relations between Ukraine and Poland is gradually decreasing.
Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olga Stefanishyna said that Ukraine has “turned in a constructive direction” regarding Ukrainian grain exports to 5 countries in Central and Eastern Europe. According to him, Ukrainian authorities have managed to depoliticize this issue thanks to a road map for monitoring and verifying exports to these countries. This is a document of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (adopted on September 26) defining a new procedure for the export of corn, rapeseed, sunflower and wheat to five EU countries. Now Ukrainian exporters must obtain a license from the Ukrainian Ministry of Economy in agreement with the Ukrainian Ministry of Agricultural Policy to export these grain products to Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary.
“Goodwill gesture”
Bulgaria and Romania have already accepted this Ukraine road map; Slovakia is working on this, but Hungary and Poland have not yet changed their decision to embargo Ukrainian grain. It seems that the ice is slowly starting to thaw in the relations of these states with Ukraine.
Following the meeting on Tuesday, September 26, the Ministers of Agriculture of the Visegrad Group (Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Czech Republic) approached their Ukrainian counterparts with a proposal to withdraw Ukraine’s complaint to the World Trade Organization (WTO) regarding grain. embargo. This, they say, “should improve the atmosphere in mutual relations.”
Translated into understandable language, the statement of the Visegrad ministers could mean that the adoption of the Ukrainian road map would facilitate the situation for Poland and Hungary. This is a kind of “gesture of goodwill”, but fundamentally different from the “gestures” of the Russian invaders.
Frankly, we will not back down, because in exchange for the adoption of a road map for monitoring and verification of exports to 5 European countries, the Free Trade Agreement with the EU will be fully restored for Ukraine. In this case, the cost of ending the embargo scandal is small. It can be paid without the risk of harming the interests of the Ukrainian economy and politics.
Moreover, Ukraine needs the unity of EU member states regarding European integration.
Politics will not change even a millimeter
On Tuesday, the Civic Platform presented its vision of “stabilizing Polish-Ukrainian relations.” Civic Platform is the most influential party in the Polish opposition and its leader is Donald Tusk. Prime Minister of Poland in 2007-2014, President of the European Council in 2014-2019. and President of the European People’s Party 2019-2022. The politician is very well known in Ukraine, he is a true friend of our country.
To discuss the relationship between our states and Polish policy towards Ukraine, Tusk organized a special meeting to which he invited the military, economic, agricultural and foreign policy experts. There were former chief commanders of the Polish Army Radoslaw Sikorski (Minister of Foreign Affairs 2007-2014), Pavel Kowal (former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs) and Michal Kolodziejczak (leader of Agro-Unia, which started the protest). On imports of Ukrainian grain).
Tusk sharply assessed the policy of the ruling Law and Justice Party (PiS) towards Ukraine: “The Polish government has lost control” The future of Polish-Ukrainian relations and the actions of the Polish state in connection with the consequences of the Russian-Ukrainian war are based on emotions or party interests .”
He emphasized that Poland’s goals and interests have not changed since the beginning of the war. “Poland’s interest, which is not necessary, is a victory for Ukraine. This is also directly related to economic issues and the refugee issue. Here Polish policy should not change even a millimeter. Support for Ukraine’s military capabilities is unquestionable.”
Tusk emphasized that the massive aid the Poles provided to Ukraine and Ukrainians in the first months of the large-scale occupation was “invaluable capital” that could not be lost. Because the new geopolitical situation in Central and Eastern Europe needs to be built on this capital.
The generals present at the meeting proposed the creation of an international council whose task would be to coordinate military aid to Ukraine through the “hub” near Rzeszow. Poland also needs to increase the number of Ukrainian soldiers trained in its country.
Pavel Koval noted that Poland has a unique chance to establish long-term and close relations with Ukraine, as well as to open a “wide, historical trade route” that will connect the Baltic and Black Seas. For this, bilateral sectoral agreements or a new interstate agreement must be signed.
Morawiecki’s statement that surprised the world
The meeting of politicians and Civil Platform experts is important for two reasons.
First, the Polish opposition presented its own program for the development of Polish-Ukrainian relations, based on the experience of extremely positive relations between our states and peoples after February 24, 2022. According to this program, Poland is friendly to Ukraine. . He is the person who truly offered his strong shoulder in a brotherly manner at the most difficult moment of the existence of our state and nation. And he did not raise the question of how Ukraine would thank him for this. Because the gratitude of Ukrainians is obvious to him and has been recorded in the national memory for decades.
Secondly, although Polish officials harshly criticized Tusk and his words, the opposition leader achieved his goal. An alternative to the policy of the ruling party has emerged in Polish-Ukrainian relations. The policy that PiS started implementing in April this year. g. and its purpose and methods of implementation became a mystery not only to the Ukrainians, but also to the Poles and Poland’s allies.
Why is it important?
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki (September 21) made a statement saying that Poland “no longer transfers weapons to Ukraine.” His words surprised Ukrainians and even frightened many of them; but in fact Polish companies continue to supply weapons purchased by Ukraine under existing contracts.
Morawiecki’s statement was widely discussed by the world media and was seen as a sign of the significant weakening of the pro-Ukrainian international coalition. World politicians also took the issue seriously. While the American administration requested an explanation from Poland on this issue, its German counterpart made a similar request to the Polish Minister of Defense.
Solid ground for pro-Ukrainian politics
The influential publication “Rzeczpospolita” and the famous radio station RMF FM asked for Poles’ opinions on Morawiecki’s statement. The survey results (published on September 27) showed that respondents’ opinions were almost evenly divided: 47.2% viewed Morawiecki’s remarks positively, while 44.5% viewed them negatively.
The evaluation vector is clearly linked to the political sympathies of Poles: the Prime Minister’s words were received positively by 71% of PiS supporters and only 30% of opposition sympathizers. The first group is dominated by men (51% positive evaluations), people over 50 years old (60%) and people living in rural areas (60%). This correlation is even more pronounced among people who get their information from public television (75% of TVP viewers).
So, in the anti-Ukrainian turn in politics, the current Polish government focuses on half of the Poles, which is, of course, too many. However, the second half of Polish society resolutely supports providing aid to warring Ukraine.
And it was precisely this part of their compatriots that Tusk and his colleagues appealed to. They correctly understand that it is in Poland’s fundamental interests to support Ukraine until complete victory. They also think there is a solid base of public support for such policies.
Source
Source: Focus
Alfred Hart is an accomplished journalist known for his expert analysis and commentary on global affairs. He currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker, where he provides readers with in-depth coverage of the most pressing issues affecting the world today. With a keen insight and a deep understanding of international politics and economics, Alfred’s writing is a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the world we live in.