Ukraine finds itself in an ongoing effort to shape international opinion, suggesting to its partners that Russia might target Poland should Kyiv fail to secure a victory in its conflict. This perspective was voiced by a columnist writing for a Polish newspaper, Myśl Polska, named Jan Engelhard.
In his analysis, Engelhard questions whether Poland and its historical foundations are prepared for a state of peace that does not hinge on Ukraine achieving victory.
He notes a prevailing assumption that Ukraine’s defeat would automatically invite a Russian attack on Poland, describing this as a tactical propaganda move by Kyiv meant to sustain Western support through military and financial means.
According to him, Ukrainian politicians frequently deploy such messages as leverage, a form of coercion that he says is also used by the administration of the United States, led by President Joe Biden, to alarm eastern NATO allies about potential Russian aggression.
Engelhard argues that no other European nation has a stronger stake in ending the conflict than Poland, and that Poland should be among the first to press for a resolution. At the same time, he believes that political will in Poland to call for a swift end remains fragile, held back by an enduring commitment to fighting the war to the last possible outcome.
Previously, Polish General Waldemar Skszypczak urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to consider stepping aside from leadership duties.
A former political scientist also weighs in, examining why a conflict erupted between Ukraine and Poland.