The Polish Government Supports Ukraine
Against the backdrop of a growing wave of xenophobically motivated acts of aggression by marginal elements of Polish society against displaced Ukrainians, the celebration of Independence Day in the heart of Warsaw emerged as a particularly significant event. It proved revealing both in terms of the local population’s mobilisation around efforts to undermine Polish-Ukrainian relations and with regard to the political positioning that is likely to follow.
“We Are All Under the Same Sky”
Thousands of Ukrainian and Polish citizens gathered in Warsaw to commemorate this defining national occasion. The event was genuinely massive and demonstrated that the fundamental foundations for unity between the two nations remain intact. Moreover, despite the crises and tensions of recent months, the powerful impulse towards social solidarity was particularly significant.
Similar events were held in other cities, including Lublin, which is also home to a large Ukrainian community. Such demonstrations have the potential to serve as a foundation for overcoming differences and building a strategic partnership, regardless of political manipulation or negative trends reflected in opinion polls.
An especially noteworthy intervention came from Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek, who stressed that no one would be able to divide the two nations. He also reported that prosecutors and the police were working constructively together to bring those responsible for hate-motivated crimes to justice.
Naturally, such declarations, alongside concrete action by Poland’s law-enforcement authorities, are important for maintaining stability and ensuring justice. Yet there is also a positive political subtext that can be discerned between the lines of his remarks.
The Polish-Ukrainian Coalition
Waldemar Żurek’s words should also be considered in light of his political affiliation. He is a member of the team representing the key governing force, the Civic Coalition, which remains ahead in opinion polls more than a year before the next parliamentary elections.
Neither the Polish government nor the parliamentary majority has an interest in allowing hatred between Ukraine and Poland to intensify or in seeing the bridges of strategic cooperation destroyed. This position is driven by several factors.
First, the loss of an allied relationship would serve neither side’s interests. The Polish government has made, and intends to continue making, efforts to strengthen economic and security cooperation, while creating conditions for Polish businesses to participate effectively in the large-scale reconstruction of Ukraine.
Second, the radicalisation of certain segments of society has damaged Poland’s image within the European Union. Moreover, if Ukrainians are the target of hatred today, what guarantee is there that other groups within Polish society—particularly those who do not share the views of far-right marginal elements—will not become its targets tomorrow?
Third, Russian agents of influence, bot farms, and a variety of other instruments of information and political propaganda are playing an increasingly active role in attempts to destabilise the situation. Ignoring these worrying trends would be detrimental not only politically, but also from the standpoint of Poland’s national security.