Ukrainian ambassador reveals what Poles want before supporting Ukraine's EU accession

Ukraine's Ambassador to Poland Vasyl Bodnar has commented on the results of a poll showing that the majority of Poles do not support Ukraine's accession to the EU for the first time in a long while.

Source: Bodnar in an interview with European Pravda

Details: Bodnar said Poles broadly support the idea of Ukraine joining the EU, but on the condition that it meets the same requirements Poland itself once had to meet.

Quote: "Poles are behind us joining the EU. But on the condition that all the requirements for European Union integration are fulfilled."

More details: Bodnar explained that both sides of Poland's political spectrum share a common narrative: Poland followed its own path towards EU integration, meeting the necessary conditions, and Ukraine must go through the same process.

Meanwhile, he said the caution among Poles towards Ukraine's EU membership is not really about political support, but about genuine interests tied primarily to agriculture, transport and hauliers, along with a certain fear of competition on the European market from future Ukrainian businesses.

Quote: "Of course, they have their own interests, and we have ours, but that's precisely what dialogue is for."

More details: Bodnar also recommended looking at the history of Ukrainian-Polish bilateral relations.

Quote: "The level of support, or of a positive attitude towards Ukrainians, has always sat at around 22-23-25%. It has always risen whenever we've gone through serious historical events, whether that was the Maidans [Revolutions] or the start of the war. And now, in the same way, that support is declining – both in terms of support for Ukraine and support for EU accession, because EU accession is, so to speak, part of the 'Ukrainian issue' in Poland."

More details: Bodnar said that the recent escalation in Ukrainian-Polish bilateral relations is therefore being reflected in public opinion assessments of Ukraine.

Background:

• Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister of Poland, has reiterated that Ukraine's current attitude towards its history could become a serious obstacle on its path to the EU.
• In June, Kosiniak-Kamysz said that Ukraine would face serious problems joining the EU if it did not abandon the honouring of figures from nationalist organisations of the past, namely OUN and UPA.
• The minister also agreed with the notion that there are "certain forces" in Kyiv that do not want their country to join the EU.

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