Exclusive interview with the Deputy of Ukrainian Parliament
What can we expect after elections in Poland? How will be developed cooperation with our main partner? How will be resolved problems in bilateral relations? What initiatives are preparing by Ukrainian side? Direct answers from member of Ukrainian Parliament?
How do you assess the results of the elections in Poland?
The extremely high voter turnout is impressive. This can only indicate that there is a great public demand for change in Poland. The Polish people were very active and clearly demonstrated this personal position. And only Polish citizens have the right to evaluate the election results. Ukraine respects the decision of the Polish people and knows that Poland has always been and will be a reliable partner of Ukraine, because practically all the main political forces of Poland unquestionably supported cooperation with Ukraine during the election campaign.
The only thing that can worry Ukraine is the risks of a political crisis within our reliable partners, and this is not only about Poland. When a political crisis occurs in any country, it leads to the internal absorption of the political elite with an effort to resolve internal contradictions. At this time, it is quite clear that attention to events outside of internal affairs is somewhat reduced. Therefore, the risks of fragmentation of the Polish Parliament and society, contradictions between the President and the new convocation of the Seim with the threat of early re-elections are not good for Ukraine. But we hope that Poland will pass the stage of forming a coalition and a government quickly enough without the risk of political troubles in 2024, because, first of all, it is important for our ally and the Polish people. Turbulence and uncertainty in the country is exactly what our common enemy – Russia – likes to use.
At one time, Ukraine went through a stage of internal political confrontations in the form of a struggle between the orange and white-blue camps. And it weakened the country. What the enemy from Moscow definitely took advantage of and in every possible way shook the alliance between Tymoshenko and Yushchenko. Therefore, we understand the risks of prolonging the coalition. In Poland, there is also an old fierce confrontation between Tusk and Kaczyński. But we definitely believe that the experienced Tusk, Kaczynski and Duda will find a wise solution and will not allow Moscow to intervene and shake up the internal political situation. This, by the way, can also be a non-standard decision – to grant the right to form a coalition and, accordingly, the government of Poland to the political alliance “Third Way”. To move away from the internal confrontation and open the way to the next political future of Poland.
What do you think about the fact that coalition and the government can be formed by opposition forces?
It is Poland’s business – in which structure to form a coalition and a government. Ukraine is ready for cooperation with Poland in any format. I will note once again – all major Polish parties stand on the basis of partnership with Ukraine. We have an established practice of cooperation with the majority of political forces: “Law and Justice”, “Civil Platform”, “Third Way” bloc, “Left”. I had many productive meetings with the representatives of the “Civic Platform” at the Forum in Karpach in September this year, and I saw their attitude towards constructive and further deepening of friendly partnership relations with Ukraine. We spoke at the same discussion panel with the member of the Seim from the “Civil Platform” Stanislav Zmian and discussed many common and effective ideas in the field of infrastructure.
Even earlier in July, on my initiative, we organized an economic forum in Lublin, which was opened by the president of the city, a member of the “Civic Platform” Krzysztof Žuk, and deputies of the Seim from the party took an active part in the work, for example Michal Kravchyk, who is a true friend of Ukraine and together we will be able to make a huge contribution to the development of inter-parliamentary diplomacy and cooperation between our countries.
What do you think about “Law and Justice”: is it possible to assume that relations between Poland and Ukraine have worsened last month due to their fault?
I will be objective, the entire Polish people, including the previous government and the current President of the country, have done a lot to help Ukraine. We received a large amount of military equipment, Poland opened its doors to Ukrainian citizens. From the first days of the full-scale invasion, Poland became a reliable pillar and support of Ukraine on all world platforms, including NATO and the European Parliament.
Together with my colleagues, I registered a draft resolution in the Verkhovna Rada with words of gratitude to the previous convocation of the Seim and the Senate for their help and our joint efforts in the fight against Russian aggression. It will be voted on soon.
And I do not think that relations between Poland and Ukraine have deteriorated. They were simply in a state of “freezing” for the duration of the pre-election race until Poland’s internal political issues were resolved. The elections have passed and now Ukraine and Poland need to make up for lost time. All the more so because our countries face big questions. Because the world is changing rapidly and the old security structures and alliances are becoming increasingly ineffective and meaningless. They contain too many contradictions that destroy them from the inside. The time is coming for regional and more operational unions, something like AUKUS. And in this future, a regional security union with the participation of Poland, Ukraine, the Baltic countries and Great Britain is quite natural. We are doomed to create such a union, taking into account all the challenges facing our countries.
I hope that the new Polish government and the new parliamentary coalition will realize this and we will move towards it together. But this does not change the fact that we still need to turn over all the pages of our history, including the Volyn tragedy. And to admit that there were different pages of different colors in Polish-Ukrainian history. Recognize, record, draw conclusions and move on. In this direction, cooperation has already begun on the basis of the University of Warsaw and the University named after T. Shevchenko. I also spoke about this in detail at the forum in Karpach.
How do you think the failure of the anti-Ukrainian “Confederation” can be explained?
In Ukraine, we especially did not want the specified political force to become part of the coalition or to establish itself as the leading opposition force – neither of these things happened. A complete failure, which will also lead to a split and reformation within the party. I hope that their story is a demonstration that anti-Ukrainian rhetoric and open pandering to the interests of the Kremlin have no political prospects in Poland.