Head of the Polish embassy on aid to Ukraine, provocations and Russia’s attack

Is a significant correction expected in Ukrainian-Polish relations?

On 18 May, the first round of presidential elections is set to be held in Poland. Regardless of who becomes the new president, one thing is clear – all leading candidates have made critical statements about Ukraine.

Read more about the war, how Poland assesses its relations with Ukraine, and whether Kyiv should expect a shift in Warsaw’s foreign policy after the elections in an interview with Piotr Łukasiewicz, the head of the Polish Embassy in Ukraine, conducted by Yurii Panchenko, European Pravda's editor: Poland is always threatened by war, but we don’t believe in a Russian attack because Ukraine will win.

You can read his key takes:

I assess the current state of Ukrainian-Polish relations as very good! I would even say that given the circumstances of the war – excellent.

In our historical dialogue with Ukraine, especially regarding our shared history, we have made significant progress.

We have finally reached an understanding and have started the first exhumation works in Puzhnyky.

Once the exhumation works in Puzhnyky are completed, I believe the time will come to discuss other issues, including the desecration of the UPA soldiers’ grave on the Monastyr hill.

The anti-Ukrainian statements made during the election campaign have nothing to do with our bilateral relations. This is Poland’s internal politics. Polish-Ukrainian relations, on the other hand, are shaped by the strategic interests of both Poland and Ukraine.

And as the Polish authorities have clearly stated, Poland will support Ukraine in this war until victory.

Personally, I firmly believe that Ukraine will emerge from this war as the winner.

What policy the new president will pursue, I cannot say.

However, I have the impression that Poland’s strategic interest lies in deterring Russia. That is our eternal interest.

Poland supports Ukraine’s victory in many ways, primarily in the military sphere.

Between 2022 and the end of 2024, s total of 318 tanks, 536 combat vehicles of various types, 136 artillery systems of different calibres, 10 aircraft and 10 combat helicopters. Polish Krab self-propelled howitzers and Polish tanks have served the Ukrainians in victories, not only in defence

Plus a vast amount of ammunition, combat supplies, fuel and lubricants, spare parts, etc.

We delivered the most at the beginning of the war. However, we continue to provide new aid packages.

The 47th aid package, worth about 200 million euros, is being prepared and will be delivered in the coming months.

Also, nearly 30,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been trained on Polish territory. And of course, we provide logistics support to the Ukrainian army.

Regarding the MiG-29s, we are gradually phasing them out and replacing them with F-16s. Transferring them to Ukraine is likely, and relevant negotiations are ongoing.

At this point, the war should end here and now with a ceasefire, followed by negotiations that must lead to conditions under which Ukraine will be strengthened, not weakened.

Under such conditions, the Russian army will not dare to start a new conflict or confront the Polish army or the armies of other NATO countries. They simply won’t be capable of it.

The circumstances and current dynamics are such that this attack will not happen because Ukraine will win.

The Russian economy is not as big as it seems. It’s creaking, and new sanctions will only worsen its problems.

Poland will definitely not expel Ukrainians living in Poland after the war. It will be their decision. It will depend on what the reconstruction of Ukraine looks like, and whether these people will have a place to return to.