The debate about the state of Ukrainian-Polish relations continues unabated. And this is not surprising, as September 15 is approaching, when the embargo on imports of Ukrainian grain to the EU countries will expire: Bulgaria, Poland, Slovakia, Romania and Hungary,” Espresso writes.
A month ago, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that his government was ready to extend the embargo unilaterally. That is, in a situation where Ukraine and the European Commission agree not to extend the embargo, Poland will not allow Ukrainian grain to enter its market.
Although these restrictions violated the EU-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement, as well as the European Union’s decision last year to abolish duties on exports of all Ukrainian products to the EU. This cancellation was extended for another year three months ago.
The exchange of statements (by government officials and employees of the offices of the presidents of both states) and gestures (mutual summons of ambassadors to the ministries of foreign affairs) ended with the Polish Foreign Ministry formulating 7 points on relations with Ukraine (called “facts”). The document is written in harsh language, in the form of an ultimatum with a direct threat to block Ukraine’s integration with the EU.
The politics of hyenas and jackals
In Ukraine, such a position of a strategic partner caused rejection and surprise, because after February 24, 2022, Poland became a model of a friendly state and fraternal people. But we understand that what is written with a pen cannot be pulled with an ox.
Warsaw has set out its conditions for the development of bilateral relations and will demand that they be met. Regardless of who wins the October 15 parliamentary elections, there is a consensus among the main political forces on the main points of the Foreign Ministry’s ultimatum. This was evidenced by the opposition’s support for the grain embargo and the unanimous approval of the Sejm’s statement on the 80th anniversary of the Volyn tragedy.
In Poland, Jacek Czaputowicz, former Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Law and Justice government (2018-2020), was the most vocal in his criticism of the ultimatum. He equated Polish politics with the behavior of “hyenas and jackals.”
Chaputovych has been criticized by the current head of Polish diplomacy, Zbigniew Rau, as well as by the former head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Witold Waszczykowski, a well-known PiS politician and member of the European Parliament from this party.
Waszczykowski’s three points
Waszczykowski outlined his views on Polish-Ukrainian relations and Kyiv’s policy in a recent interview. He noted that Ukraine has “three problems” in its relations with Poland.
The first problem is that our state does not understand the principles of the EU’s functioning. “They [i.e., Ukrainians],” the politician emphasized, “are not able to correctly read the games between different European institutions – many planes of competition of ideologies.
The second problem is that Ukraine has relied on Germany in the European security architecture: “They believe that Berlin – with the support of the American democratic administration – will play a decisive role in shaping the situation in the EU and security policy, bypassing Warsaw.”
The third, and key, problem, according to Waszczykowski, is that with its recent statements, “Ukraine is clearly playing for a change of power in Poland,” because the return of the Civic Platform to power should lead to a “selfless policy” toward Ukraine. A policy that will also be “accommodating” to Germany.
We are moving towards the EU as it is
As a politician from the Ukrainian opposition, it is not my task to act as an advocate for the current government. However, I am responding to the theses of the famous Polish politician, because I have known Witold Waszczykowski for a long time, so it is worth continuing our conversations. In addition, he is an influential representative of the ruling party, and his voice is important to the government and the part of Polish society that supports it.
Ukrainian politicians can be defined by various negative characteristics, but most of us cannot be said to be naive. And that we don’t understand the ideological agenda in the EU.
We understand everything. Just as we understand that Russia has been playing for the collapse of the European Union for decades, using various scare stories such as “gay Europe,” “destruction of traditional values,” and “absorption of states and nations by the Brussels bureaucracy.”
We have no choice: either we join the EU and NATO, or we will die in a war with anti-European, anti-Western and imperial Russia. This is the formula for Ukraine’s unalterable choice.
Ukraine has relied (to use Waszczykowski’s term) on a united and strong global democratic community, despite all internal disagreements. That is why our existential interest is to accept and support the EU and NATO as they are.
We love mom, dad and uncle too
Ukrainian politics is not faced with a choice: whom to love more: Polish dad or German mom? Or maybe even a democratic Uncle Sam? We love everyone, although during the 10 years of war with Russia we have seen that the feelings of “moms,” “dads,” and “uncles” are not selfless. Because they all have their own interests.
President Andrzej Duda enjoys the well-deserved respect and sympathy of the vast majority of Ukrainians, as evidenced by public opinion polls. So does the entire Polish state and the Poles as a nation.
Over the past year, our diplomacy has been talking tough with Germany, using not very diplomatic means of communication. There was no way out, because the German authorities were slowing down military aid. But we have to admit that this has changed, although we are not satisfied with the pace of arms supply and the too-long discussions about the supply of long-range missiles.
Ukraine remembers and will long remember the personal involvement of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, which she has shown and continues to show in helping our country. Realizing at the same time that the Polish authorities do not have easy relations with it.
It’s about money, not morality
And my conclusions about the Ukrainian “game” to change the government in Poland. I will answer harshly: I have not read a more absurd thesis about the Ukrainian government and its policies for a long time. The thesis is unsubstantiated and therefore provocative.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has learned his lesson well since July 2019, when the then-American president tried to drag Ukraine into his election campaign. With the help of “dirt” that Donald Trump wanted to get on Joe Biden.
Zelensky remembers that it all ended with the impeachment of Trump and great upheaval in the American democracy. And that the consequences of this situation are still being felt today, as a certain part of the Republican Party is in favor of cutting aid to Ukraine.
President Zelenskyy has a warm and trusting relationship with President Duda. And this explains the emotional reaction of our diplomacy to the statement about Ukraine’s “ingratitude” for the assistance provided by Poland. In a situation where the Polish government is trying to secure the interests of its farmers and large agricultural firms.
In other words, it’s all about money, not morality.
When commenting on the latest escalation in Ukrainian-Polish relations, I try to explain the harshness and ultimatum of Polish statements and steps by the logic of the election campaign.
I don’t change my mind, but Waszczykowski’s words show that, unfortunately, the political game in relations with Ukraine is just beginning. And that there are no limits to the absurdity of theses about Ukrainian politics.
