June 23: Ukrainian and Polish Media Urge Politicians to Halt Worsening Relations
On June 23, Ukrainian and Polish media issued a joint appeal, urging politicians to de-escalate relations. They stressed the importance of supporting Ukraine, which defends Europe from Russian aggression, and warned against Russian manipulation, calling for wisdom and solidarity.
On June 23, Ukrainian and Polish media outlets, including «European Pravda», «Gazeta Wyborcza», and TOK FM, published a joint appeal to politicians in both countries. They expressed serious concern over the crisis in Polish-Ukrainian relations, noting that despite harsh official signals, particularly from the Polish president, there is a contrasting view within society.
The appeal emphasizes that Ukraine has been resisting Putin's aggression for twelve years, with five years of full-scale war, thereby protecting Poland and Europe. This defense comes at a dramatic cost: hundreds of thousands killed, millions of refugees, and occupied territories. Since 2022, Poland has provided significant military, financial, and humanitarian aid, accepting nearly 2 million Ukrainian refugees.
Current tensions negatively impact attitudes towards Ukrainians in Poland and Poles in Ukraine, creating challenges for politicians, media, and civil society. The authors urge against succumbing to Russian manipulation, which conducts disinformation campaigns. They believe that the time for serious discussions about the past will come after Ukraine's victory. This is a time of trial where politicians must show wisdom, and societies must continue to support each other for a common future in the EU. The appeal recalls the 2013 words of Leonid Kuchma and Aleksander Kwaśniewski on the importance of not using past tragedies to escalate relations.