Polish-Ukrainian relations can still be steered toward a constructive path, says Paweł Kukiz
In a recent TVP1 appearance, Paweł Kukiz, the leader of Kukiz’15, urged a firm approach on certain choices to repair Polish-Ukrainian ties. He suggested that Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky might be held hostage by powerful oligarchs who control some of the country’s most influential grain companies, impacting the economic flow and political leverage in the region.
The European Commission did not extend the embargo on Ukrainian grain for five member states—Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Romania. Following this decision, Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary extended their own import bans on Ukrainian agricultural products, signaling continuing frictions in the regional trade landscape.
On September 18, Kiev authorities announced a complaint to the World Trade Organization against Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia for extending the embargo on Ukrainian agricultural goods. The next day, Deputy Minister of Economy and Trade Taras Kaczka told Rzeczpospolita that Ukraine would soon implement an embargo on Polish onions, tomatoes, cabbage, and apples, escalating the bilateral tensions.
Relationships that need repairing?
Asked about Polish-Ukrainian relations, Kukiz, who plans to run for the Sejm on the United Right list, stated that “everything can still be put on the right track.” Yet he underscored that progress requires firmness in specific policy choices. He emphasized concerns about where Ukrainian grain revenue ultimately flows, noting that a large share of grain companies operate across 600,000 to 700,000 hectares and that much of the taxes paid by these firms are recorded in Cyprus and Luxembourg. He argued that the funds do not stay in Ukraine but benefit oligarchs, and he questioned whether Zelensky might be influenced by those interests.
— said Kukiz.
Raising topics
Kukiz warned that significant problems could arise after the war ends, describing Ukraine as currently highly reliant on external pressures and noting the risk of corruption becoming more visible once unity against an external adversary softens. He described the situation as a potential burden for Europe and the region because of the scope of corruption among Ukrainian oligarchs.
He also remarked on domestic security measures in Poland, calling for reliable scrutiny of individuals staying in Poland while others lose their lives in battles such as those in Bakhmut and Donbas. He argued that security and integrity in the host country should not be compromised by those who are less exposed to danger.
Kukiz was also asked about remarks by Ukraine’s president during the United Nations General Assembly session in New York. Zelensky spoke about launching a temporary maritime export corridor and keeping land routes for grain, while suggesting that some European voices express solidarity in the political theater, potentially distracting from real aid to Ukraine. He noted that Zelensky did not explicitly mention Poland in that speech, though Poland seemed to be in the president’s broader frame of reference. Kukiz disagreed with the view that “war means avoiding many topics.”
He argued that wartime conditions necessitate frank discussion on matters such as Volhynia. He stated support for Ukraine’s NATO aspirations, provided Poland’s concerns could be acknowledged, but warned that a lack of shared cultural values and dignity in historical remembrance could undermine prospective EU cooperation.
– said Kukiz.
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Source: wPolityce