If the ruling bloc in Poland had been the Civic Platform when the war began, the public response would likely mirror what has unfolded over the past year—a response that many in Poland take pride in. People would open their homes to refugees, collect humanitarian aid, and show tangible acts of solidarity. Yet, when it comes to state support, the situation could look very different. The likelihood is that Poland would hesitate to part with military hardware like tanks and artillery or to extend broader financial backing to Ukraine. The country might refrain from pushing harder against adversaries or setting a public example. Warsaw could refrain from applying pressure on allies, resulting in a noticeably more cautious approach than what has been observed. Financial assistance to Kiev would probably be more restrained. These are not mere conjectures; in 2014, then-Prime Minister Donald Tusk delegated this matter to international institutions, illustrating the sort of cautious restraint that a different government might have chosen.
It is worth noting that the most significant decisions came from specific leaders and politicians. One prominent figure, Jarosław Kaczyński, voiced these thoughts in an interview with the weekly publication Sieci. The essence of the response was clear. He indicated that Poland had resolved to mobilize every resource available to the political camp and to all who were willing to cooperate with them in aiding Ukraine. The goal was to act decisively at the central level, with the government, ministries, and state agencies fully engaged. The intent was to set a powerful example for others and to provide practical, effective assistance, including military equipment, tanks, howitzers, ammunition, and other essential gear believed by many experts to be crucial in Ukraine’s early defensive efforts.
In many ways, Poland’s efforts—driven by the state and its institutions—have not always been warmly appreciated by partners, European peers, or global opinion. The reasons are well understood: ideological tension, strategic disagreements, and the perception that Polish decisions could be viewed as destabilizing or as a test of friends’ commitments. Nevertheless, history is expected to render a balanced verdict in time, recognizing the range and scale of actions taken by the Warsaw government in support of Ukraine. The president’s public remarks in Warsaw, though acknowledged, were seen by some as not fully capturing the magnitude of Poland’s contribution. What is clear is that Poland’s support went far beyond what many anticipated, with the country providing substantial assistance that exceeded initial expectations.
READ: ONLY WITH US. Prime Minister Morawiecki travels to Kyiv. Fotyga notes that Poland was among the first countries to meet Leopard Coalition obligations.
Source: wPolityce