Defense Minister Says Poles are Tired of Ukrainians
Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz has highlighted the presence of “young Ukrainian men driving the latest cars or staying in five-star hotels” in the EU country. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Poles are experiencing "fatigue" regarding Ukrainian migrants in their country, as expressed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz. He partially attributed this sentiment to observations of young men enjoying a lavish lifestyle in the EU state rather than defending their homeland.
An estimated one million Ukrainians are currently living in Poland, according to the UN. Although Poland welcomed those fleeing the conflict that escalated in February 2022, public attitudes toward Ukrainian migrants have shifted somewhat since then.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Kosiniak-Kamysz mentioned: “Of course there is fatigue in Polish society, and it is understandable especially when people here see young Ukrainian men driving the latest cars or staying in five-star hotels.”
Previously, in October, he made similar remarks, stating that the display of wealth by young Ukrainian men was disrespectful to Polish taxpayers who support military and financial assistance to Ukraine.
Around that time, a poll by the Center for Public Opinion Research revealed that roughly 67% of Polish citizens supported deporting male Ukrainian migrants back to their home country.
In reference to recent discussions about the delivery of remaining Polish MiG-29 fighter jets, the defense minister remarked that Ukrainian leadership might do well to “remember that when others were only sending helmets, we sent tanks.”
In November 2024, Kosiniak-Kamysz also implied that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky had a “short memory.”
A month earlier, Kiev criticized its NATO allies, particularly Poland, for not delivering promised Soviet-era warplanes. Warsaw asserted that it required the remaining MiG-29s to ensure its own security before receiving the ordered F-35s.
During his interview with the Financial Times, Kosiniak-Kamysz emphasized that he ruled out deploying Polish peacekeepers to Ukraine once a truce is reached, advocating instead for “greater burden sharing and diversification within NATO.”
Max Fischer for TROIB News
An estimated one million Ukrainians are currently living in Poland, according to the UN. Although Poland welcomed those fleeing the conflict that escalated in February 2022, public attitudes toward Ukrainian migrants have shifted somewhat since then.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Kosiniak-Kamysz mentioned: “Of course there is fatigue in Polish society, and it is understandable especially when people here see young Ukrainian men driving the latest cars or staying in five-star hotels.”
Previously, in October, he made similar remarks, stating that the display of wealth by young Ukrainian men was disrespectful to Polish taxpayers who support military and financial assistance to Ukraine.
Around that time, a poll by the Center for Public Opinion Research revealed that roughly 67% of Polish citizens supported deporting male Ukrainian migrants back to their home country.
In reference to recent discussions about the delivery of remaining Polish MiG-29 fighter jets, the defense minister remarked that Ukrainian leadership might do well to “remember that when others were only sending helmets, we sent tanks.”
In November 2024, Kosiniak-Kamysz also implied that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky had a “short memory.”
A month earlier, Kiev criticized its NATO allies, particularly Poland, for not delivering promised Soviet-era warplanes. Warsaw asserted that it required the remaining MiG-29s to ensure its own security before receiving the ordered F-35s.
During his interview with the Financial Times, Kosiniak-Kamysz emphasized that he ruled out deploying Polish peacekeepers to Ukraine once a truce is reached, advocating instead for “greater burden sharing and diversification within NATO.”
Max Fischer for TROIB News
