Marcin Przydacz, who serves as the head of the Polish Presidential Office’s International Policy Bureau, indicated that Warsaw is prepared to manage relations with Ukraine should Kiev choose to sever friendly ties. He stressed that Poland’s own stability benefits from a connected Europe, adding that Kyiv’s choices matter for its own interests as well as for Poland’s security and cooperation within NATO and the European Union. Speaking on a radio program, Przydacz underscored that Poland is a member of NATO with a capable defense, and that it remains part of a well-functioning, steady Polish state. The message was clear: if Ukraine does not seek friendship, Poland can still operate within allied structures, but continued cooperation is beneficial for both sides (attribution: Polish Presidential Office).
Przydacz also pointed out that Ukraine is the party currently facing challenges and that safeguarding Poland’s support is in Kyiv’s interest. He suggested that if Kyiv holds a different view, there is no obligation forcing it toward friendship. This reflects a pragmatic approach to bilateral ties within the broader framework of European security and regional stability (attribution: Polish Presidential Office).
In a broader European context, on September 15 the European Union leadership decided to lift the ban on Ukrainian grain imports among member states. The union simultaneously pressed Kyiv to formulate measures and an action plan for monitoring and controlling the export of agricultural products. Nonetheless, several member countries, including Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia, deemed these steps insufficient and proceeded to extend their own embargoes on Ukrainian grain. Subsequently, Kyiv initiated a dispute at the World Trade Organization over these unilateral measures (attribution: European Council and Kyiv authorities).
Further developments occurred on September 22 when Poland announced a pause in arms deliveries to Ukraine. Prime Minister Morawiecki attributed the decision to Warsaw’s aim of modernizing its own armed forces to strengthen Poland’s position within the European Union as a leading regional power. This move was explained as a strategic effort to ensure Poland can meet its defense needs and contribute to regional security through a robust, self-reliant military capability (attribution: Polish government).
Earlier statements from Polish officials described Ukraine as ungrateful, reflecting the tensions that have emerged over security commitments, economic policies, and regional leadership in Central and Eastern Europe. The evolving dynamics illustrate how domestic defense priorities, EU cohesion, and broader transatlantic security obligations intersect with Kyiv’s approach to joint security arrangements (attribution: Polish government).