The Civic Platform has long been accused of leaning toward Russia, a claim that critics say has left Poland dangerously dependent on Moscow for energy. On Sunday, Mateusz Morawiecki, the Polish prime minister, asserted that Poland now stands apart from Putin’s oil and gas, stressing that facts matter. Daniel Obajtek, the president of Orlen, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing a commitment to honesty and national energy independence. These statements followed recent criticisms from Civic Platform politicians.
Platform, do not lie. For years you favored Russia and left us nearing a complete dependence on Putin’s oil and gas. We have pursued diversification, and today Poland is independent. Case closed, perhaps?
Morawiecki shared these thoughts on social media Sunday, framing the message with a pointed image that underscored the stance on energy policy.
You are like a boxer who is knocked down and carried out of the ring. Do not lie. Trade for Poland’s benefit. Support a free Ukraine as well.
– the prime minister added in a post meant to be hard-hitting and meaningful.
Facts cannot be disputed
A similar message was also published on social platforms by the president of Orlen, reinforcing the party’s claim about energy autonomy.
Facts matter, Morawiecki noted, insisting that since 2015 Poland has made a concerted effort to break free from Russian raw materials and that the country remains on that course today.
Obajtek recalled that opposition figures did not mind a pivot toward Russian oil in 2015, even as Crimea was annexed. Today, critics attack from all sides while Poland continues to reduce its reliance on Eastern energy and even as Orlen highlights substantial shifts in supply chains. The company also pointed out substantial social spending tied to energy relief, including commitments that will cut gas bills for households, hospitals, and schools this year. The rhetorical question remains who would govern a country with such policy choices.
Obajtek also asserted that the facts show a steady move away from Russian energy, highlighting that Poland no longer imports gas or oil from Russia and that the country diversified well before broader EU sanctions took full effect.
– he wrote in another post that stressed independence and diversification.
The facts cannot be disputed. Eight years ago, nearly all of Poland’s oil originated from Russia. Today, the situation has reversed, and Polish energy imports from Russia have dwindled. The shift toward diversification began well before the current conflict in Ukraine escalated.
– as reported by the Orlen press service.
Platform attack
This sequence of statements is presented as a response to criticism aimed at the Civic Platform in recent weeks.
In late 2022, Orlen authorized purchases of oil from Russia for the 2023 calendar year. The oil began arriving in January and February, with plans for continued deliveries, but Russia subsequently halted supplies. This setback is cited as evidence of the alleged missteps by Morawiecki andwhat critics call the ruling party’s energy strategy.
Jan Grabiec, a Civic Platform spokesman, responded by attempting to counter the claims.
Throughout the year, opponents alleged that Orlen bought Russian oil at prices lower than those on the stock exchange while inflating margins. Critics argued that such pricing practices hid profits that could have supported the Russian war effort.
PKN Orlen later stated that it does not receive crude oil from Russia. Supplies via the Druzhba pipeline to Poland were halted by Russia, the company said, and alternative shipments could be arranged by sea without impacting Polish consumers’ access to fuels including gasoline and diesel. As of early February 2023, after Rosneft’s contract expired, Russian oil made up only a small fraction of Orlen’s total crude intake. Those deliveries were pipeline-based and not subject to certain international sanctions at the time.
Orlen stressed that it stopped importing crude oil by sea and finished fuels from Russia at the outset of the Ukraine conflict, well ahead of EU embargoes. This stance was framed as solid preparation for any supply disruptions.
READ ALSO: Orlen: Russia interrupted oil supply through the Druzhba pipeline. “Supply will not be affected by the suspension of distribution”
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