Ukraine and Polish-Ukrainian relations as seen by Poles. How much change, how much continuity?
The Mieroszewski Centre is publishing a report analysing the attitudes of Poles towards the ongoing war in Ukraine and their outlook on Ukrainian citizens in the context of current political, economic and social events.
The results of the opinion poll, conducted in November and December 2024 on a representative group of respondents, provide deep insights into the changing public mood. The report juxtaposes the latest data with the results of the previous survey (February 2024), allowing us to track the evolution of Polish attitudes and explore current trends.
Between support and doubts
Opinions about Ukrainians remain mixed. According to the survey results, 25% of respondents view them positively, while 30% express a negative opinion. Neutral assessments prevail, at 41%. In the focus groups, some respondents highlighted positive experiences of cooperation with Ukrainians. ‘My neighbours from Ukraine are very helpful. Thanks to them I understood that they are people like us, with their own difficulties,’ - said a survey participant from Lublin. Others, however, pointed to difficulties related to integration, noting that ‘many Ukrainians live in their closed communities and do not try to establish relations with Poles’ (Rzeszów).
A growing proportion of Poles, at 51%, believe that the scale of assistance provided to refugees is too large. In contrast, only 5% of respondents assess this assistance as insufficient. ‘At the beginning of the war, we all wanted to help, but now I have the impression that our help is being used and putting us in a difficult situation,’ - commented an older respondent from Łowicz. On the other hand, a younger survey participant from Wrocław noted that ‘helping Ukraine is our moral and strategic duty’.
Support for Ukraine's membership of the European Union stands at 42%, with Poles making it conditional on Ukraine meeting the relevant criteria. As for Ukraine's membership of NATO, the level of support is even higher, although some respondents point to the need to end the war before integration. ‘Ukraine in NATO would increase our security, but we cannot risk a conflict with Russia,’ noted one respondent from Wrocław.
History as a barrier?
Declared knowledge of historical events related to Polish-Ukrainian relations varies depending on the topic. As many as 46% of respondents claim to have knowledge of the Volhynian Massacre, but in the case of other events, such as the Operation Vistula or the activities of the OUN, the level of knowledge is noticeably lower. ‘I know about Volhynia because my grandmother told me about it. What happened then is difficult to imagine,’ emphasised a respondent from Wrocław. In younger groups, on the other hand, there were more frequent opinions about the need to look to the future: ‘History is important, but it should not block us from building good relations’ (Łowicz).
Almost half of the respondents believe that difficult historical topics need to be resolved in Polish-Ukrainian relations. Particularly often mentioned was the need to exhume the victims of the Volhynian Crime and to settle accounts with the past, which would allow building lasting relations based on mutual respect and understanding. Respondents emphasised that historical dialogue should be conducted in a spirit of cooperation and openness to overcome mutual prejudices and emotions related to painful episodes of the past. ‘Exhumations are our moral obligation. Without it, we will never build true reconciliation,’ stressed an elderly participant in the study from Lowicz.
Return or integration?
Migration remains a key topic in Polish-Ukrainian relations. As many as 56% of Poles expect Ukrainians living in Poland to return to their country after the end of the war. This result reflects the belief of many respondents that the presence of Ukrainians in Poland is temporary and should only last until the situation in Ukraine stabilises. At the same time, some respondents point to positive aspects of integration, such as cultural and economic enrichment, but the prevailing opinion is that the return of Ukrainians to their homeland is necessary for the post-conflict reconstruction of their country. ‘If they come back, they will help rebuild Ukraine and we will recover our labour market,’ - noted a respondent from Rzeszów. In turn, a younger survey participant from Wrocław indicated that ‘many Ukrainians have successfully integrated in Poland and can permanently enrich our society’.
The full report contains detailed data, we encourage you to read the document available below.
Ukrainian and English versions of the report are coming soon.