Historical disputes over the UPA are straining relations between Ukraine and Poland — Politico
The conflict over the legacy of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army is increasingly being used as a political weapon, threatening the strategic partnership between Ukraine and Poland on the eve of the elections.
Despite the presence of a common enemy in the form of Russia, the issue of national heroes is becoming a dividing line that is being actively exploited by pro-defense political forces.
“At the same time, for Ukrainians, this dispute has become a defining red line: can external forces dictate to them who their national heroes are? Russia is waging a war by portraying Ukraine as an artificial state, which is why Kyiv is defending its own nationalist symbols,” notes Politico.
The situation is escalating against the backdrop of the election campaign, where the nationalist camp is trying to gain the upper hand over pro-European forces.
The issue of Ukrainian refugees in Poland is becoming a key element of pre-election rhetoric, with the right wing actively exploiting public dissatisfaction with the strain on public services.
President Karol Nawrocki even suggested the possibility of blocking Ukraine’s path to the European Union due to historical differences. Such statements represent a significant departure from the long-standing policy of cooperation between Warsaw and Kyiv.
Renata Menkowska-Norke, a political scientist at the University of Warsaw, emphasizes that politicians have recognized the shift in public sentiment and are trying to convert it into votes.
“The president has realized that public sentiment has shifted toward a more hostile stance toward Ukraine and Ukrainians, and has concluded that he actually has nothing to lose. The controversy over history allows him to rally right-wing and nationalist circles around himself and his decision, and this is important on the eve of the elections,” she says.
Changes in Polish society are becoming increasingly noticeable after an initial period of unconditional solidarity.
Radical politicians, such as Grzegorz Braun, openly oppose aid to Kyiv, calling it “an enemy of the Polish people.”
According to opinion polls, a significant portion of Poles express dissatisfaction with the extent of rights granted to Ukrainian citizens in their country.
Politico reports on this.
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