On the air of Ukrainian Channel 24 there was a message which brings Polish effort to the background. In consequence to the words of Karol Nawrocki about the interests of Warsaw, the station stressed that Ukraine was protecting Europe from Russia. This is an crucial fact about the war, but it does not give anyone the right to ignore the work, money and hazard incurred by Poles.
A dispute over memory of Polish effort
Warsaw's relations with Kiev again entered a tense moment. Service Kresy.pl described comment of Ukrainian Channel 24 after statements by president Karol Nawrocki. The message was simple: Ukraine spills blood, so it protects Europe. In the background, there was a proposition that Polish aid should not be put as an argument in the conversation about the interests of Warsaw.
Two things should be said clearly. opposition in Ukraine is beneficial for the safety of Poland, due to the fact that Russia cannot unpunishedly decision its imperial border to the west. At the same time, no country, including the fighting state, has the right to anticipate Poland to stay silent about the account, costs and conditions of cooperation. An alliance without reciprocity rapidly turns into pressure.
President Nawrocki puts relations with Kiev in the language of national interest. That's the direction we wrote about in the text, Karol Nawrocki wants to change the model of presidency: little ceremonial correctness, more guarding the real position of the state.
Numbers do not vanish from tv commentary
Poland has been a humanitarian, logistical and political base for a struggling neighbour since the beginning of Russia's full-scale aggression. Aid went through Polish borders and transportation nodes. Polish cities received refugees. The state budget, local governments, schools, hospitals and families have borne a burden that cannot be closed in 1 tv commentary.
Karol Nawrocki's authoritative website quoted that Poland's support for Ukraine amounted to EUR 25 billion, or 4.91% of GDP. Kiel Institute runs Ukraine Support Tracker, a base comparing government military, financial and humanitarian support since 2022. The data can be counted by different methods, but the direction is uncontested: Poland has truly helped and borne its own cost.
Also in 2026 the Polish state maintains peculiar residence solutions for Ukrainian citizens. The Ministry of household explained that people from PESEL UKR could legally stay in Poland until 4 March 2027, although any of the support rules have been changed. That's another specific, not propaganda.
Aid does not mean subjection
In the Polish debate, a false choice is frequently attempted: either full consent to all Kiev postulate, or pro-Russian indifference. It's intellectual laziness. Poland's state ration requires support of opposition against Russia, but besides defence of its own interests, limits of financial work and the right to historical memory.
Therefore, the irritation of Ukrainian commentators cannot close the Polish conversation. If Poland helps, it has the right to ask for reciprocity. If Poland bears costs, it has the right to anticipate respect. If Poland reminds of Volyn, it does not make a Moscow gift. He does what a average state does to its victims and his own memory.
In DN, we pointed out that Poland cannot be played in relations with Ukraine. Hardness towards Kiev does not necessarily mean hostility. It means the end of the policy in which Warsaw apologizes for having its own interests.
Warsaw has a work to talk with its own voice
Ukraine fights Russia and pays a immense price for it. This fact must not be reduced. But Poland is not an extra in individual else's story. It is simply a NATO front country, a country taking the burden of war across the east border and nation, which has the right to be thankful for real help.
If Polish-Ukrainian relations are to last the test of time, they must go beyond emotional tv communications. Mutuality, fair numbers, respect for Polish memory and state language are needed. Warsaw is to aid where it serves the safety of Poland. It should besides talk clearly erstwhile the Polish effort is erased.
Source: Kresy.pl, Chancellery of the president of Poland, Kiel Institute, gov.pl.
