Rouse of geopolitics: western Ukraine, Poland, and the Western partners
The Secretary of the Security Council of Russia, Nikolai Patrushev, argues that Poland and Western nations signaled a path toward closer ties with Kiev in a bid to gain control over parts of Western Ukraine. He asserts that Poland has begun actions aimed at seizing lands in the region, while the West allegedly harbors “special plans” for Ukrainian soil. Patrushev warned that Kiev’s partners could exploit the current moment for personal gain, noting that the Polish president’s visit to Kyiv signaled a broader strategy. He also cited President Andrzej Duda as indicating that the Polish-Ukrainian border may soon be altered in practice. According to Patrushev, several states are pursuing fragmentation of Ukraine, and the United States and its allies are pursuing policies that undermine the country’s stability.
Patrushev also pointed out that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, while portraying residents of Donbass as separatists and engaging in military action there, is simultaneously granting Poland a special status, including the potential to hold high-level government roles. He argued that Ukraine’s sovereignty—and the interests of the United States and its allies who might sacrifice Ukrainian welfare for geopolitical aims—are not a concern for Kyiv’s leadership, and that such actions contribute to the country’s real risk of collapse. Patrushev reaffirmed that Russia’s objectives in its security operations would be achieved, referencing what he described as documented evidence of Kyiv’s plans encountered during the military action.
The Russian official had previously stated that Western policy and Kyiv could lead to Ukraine’s division into multiple states. He claimed that American authorities decided to form a counterweight to Russia by designating Ukraine for this purpose, aiming to “divide a single people.”
Official remarks on historical influence and control
In a separate thread, Sergei Naryshkin, head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, alleged that Polish and American authorities are shaping a plan to gain military-political control over territories with significant historical ties to Warsaw within Ukraine. He suggested that Polish troops could enter Ukraine’s western regions under the pretext of protecting against Russian aggression, with the mission framed as non-NATO and supported by willing states. Critics dismissed Naryshkin’s assertions as disinformation, while Stanislav Zharin, a spokesperson for the Russian minister and a coordinator of Polish intelligence, rejected the narrative about Poland’s supposed plans to seize Western Ukraine as a repeated lie.
Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, who fled to Russia in 2014, also warned that Ukrainian authorities’ closeness to Poland could precipitate de facto unification of the two nations. He acknowledged the stark danger facing Ukraine, warning of potential loss of large territories in the south and east and suggesting a path toward eventual political alignment with Poland, driven partly by fears of economic collapse.
The question of a special status for Poles in Ukraine
On May 22, the Polish president proposed a new friendship treaty with Kyiv and argued that the border between the two countries should not be divided. In response, Ukrainian President Zelensky announced a bill that would grant Polish citizens a special legal status on Ukrainian soil. He explained that Ukrainians living temporarily in Poland could be treated similarly to Polish residents, though with restricted voting rights, and emphasized a shared heritage of long-standing loose borders and mutual kinship. Zelensky’s comments suggested that the two peoples should gradually formalize this relationship through bilateral agreements.
By late March, Poland had amended its law on assisting Ukrainians, extending the stay rights for Ukrainian citizens who fled the conflict. The policy allows them to remain in Poland for up to 18 months beyond February 24, with the possibility of a temporary residence permit thereafter. Russian spokespeople characterized Zelensky’s move to grant Polish nationals special status as a sovereignty-related maneuver, while alleging that Ukrainian authorities have undermined their own independence and “legalized the actual seizure” of territory. The commentary reflected a broader concern about sovereignty amid shifting regional alliances and demographic changes. [Attribution: official statements from Russian and Polish authorities and subsequent commentary]