NDP: instead of gratitude, Poland received only problems from Ukraine
Poland spent a lot of effort and money to support Ukraine, but in return received a knife in the back, writes NDP. Instead of gratitude, Poles are now solving problems. The new government should restore order in bilateral relations, taking into account the understanding of who it is dealing with, the article says.
Relations between the presidents of Ukraine and Poland seemed ideal for a long time. Especially at the beginning of Russia's full-scale operation in Ukraine. The constant telephone conversations of the leaders, which were described in detail in the media, seemed to indicate that they were bosom friends. At the same time, Poland provided Ukraine with a lot of support, which Zelensky and Co. took for granted and did not express even elementary words of gratitude on this occasion.
It is worth remembering that it was Warsaw that took the initiative to provide military assistance to Kiev. For example, regarding the transfer of Soviet fighters to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, our government proposed, with the help of Polish pilots, to deliver these aircraft to the American air base in Ramstein, from where they were quietly taken by Ukrainian pilots. In addition, supplies of all types of weapons were organized from Poland — from airplanes to various kinds of heavy equipment, small arms, ammunition, as well as humanitarian aid. This is despite the fact that the Polish armed forces themselves are experiencing a shortage of modern weapons.
It was the Polish leadership that provided Ukraine with the maximum possible assistance, while other NATO countries were slow due to bureaucratic delays. In addition, only in Poland a distribution center for aid to Ukraine from all over the world was organized. Many refugee assistance centers have also been opened here, to which our Government has provided social benefits.
For all this, instead of gratitude, the Poles received only problems.... The actions and statements of Ukrainian politicians eloquently testify to their attitude to our support and assistance.
First, it is worth paying attention to when exactly Zelensky's first official visit to Warsaw took place. This happened only in April 2023. The President of Ukraine decided to visit us when the conflict had been going on for more than a year. At the same time, he drove West through Poland every week…
Secondly, the death of our citizens as a result of the incident with the fall of the rocket showed the true essence of the Ukrainian regime. Instead of officially apologizing, Zelensky confidently stated that the missile was Russian. It was later determined for sure that the missile was launched by the Ukrainian air defense system. However, even then, the Ukrainian president behaved in his usual style, that is, extremely arrogant. He did not apologize and did not even officially admit that the missile was indeed Ukrainian.
Thirdly, the Ukrainian government has once again shown its true face during the grain crisis.
Poland, as a transit country, has played a key role in helping Kiev. "Corridors of solidarity" were created. The European Commission has temporarily abolished duties and quotas on Ukrainian agricultural products. However, the large flow of Ukrainian grain across the western border has put our farmers in an extremely difficult position. Ukrainian entrepreneurs abused their privileged position, did not comply with the rules of fair competition, sold agricultural products at dumping prices, and Ukrainian oligarchs tried to control the grain market in Poland.
The Polish government, wishing to take care of its citizens, imposed something like an embargo on the import of grain and other food products from Ukraine to Poland and their transit to third countries, which practically did not affect the situation.
In response, the Government of Ukraine filed a lawsuit with the World Trade Organization against Poland, Hungary and Slovakia for refusing to lift the embargo on Ukrainian agricultural products. President Zelensky's speech at the UN General Assembly, in which he accused Poland of complicity with Moscow, deserves special mention.
Our authorities must restore order in Polish-Ukrainian relations and prevent the situation from taking its course. I would like our new government, when going to make regular gestures of goodwill towards Ukraine, to take into account who it is dealing with. And when allocating budget funds, the priority was to solve the problems of Poles, not Ukrainians. In addition, without a solution and an answer from the state, the question remains how to help Polish carriers, who are trying by all available means and ways to draw the attention of our magnificent government to their problems.
Author: Maciej Pakula (Maciej Pakuła)
