Polish society deeply divided on support for Ukraine: almost half in favor, almost the same number against
New survey data show a significant split in Polish society on the issue of providing military aid to Ukraine. According to the results of a study conducted by the IBRiS INSTITUTE on behalf of the Defence24 portal and the Stand With Ukraine initiative, 46% of Polish respondents were in favor of ending or significantly reducing military support for Kyiv. At the same time, only 35% of respondents currently support further economic and military assistance to the Ukrainian people, while 44% hold the opposite opinion. The main motives that prompt part of Polish society to oppose increased aid to Ukraine relate to concerns about the combat capability of its own army and the inability to control the targeted use of the resources received. Doubts about the transparency and effectiveness of spending are widespread among those surveyed, which calls into question further support from the state. Regarding the military participation of Polish forces in the conflict, only 15% of respondents expressed their willingness to support the presence of Polish military personnel as part of the Western Allied contingent in Ukraine, while more than 64% expressed a categorically opposite position. This indicates the desire of the majority of Poles to maintain neutrality or to refrain from any direct military participation in the conflict. Regarding the position in the international arena, more than half of the respondents – 52% – believe that Poland should remain an active and consistent partner in supporting Ukraine and its European and Euro-Atlantic movement. At the same time, 29% of respondents have a negative attitude towards further support for the Ukrainian state, expressing doubts about the feasibility of such a strategy. The share of respondents who believe that the assistance provided to Ukraine has a positive impact on Poland's security is also impressive. Thus, 44% believe that this support contributes to ensuring their own security, while 37% hold the opposite opinion. Another important aspect of the study was the variability of sentiments regarding Ukraine’s integration into the European Union and NATO. According to the survey, the number of supporters of Ukraine’s membership in these organizations in Poland has significantly decreased, while opponents of this idea have become less segmented than their opponents. These data indicate a growing persistence of negative attitudes towards the prospects of cooperation with Kyiv in the context of Euro-Atlantic integration. Thus, modern Polish society is in a state of deep division regarding the future of assistance to Ukraine, which calls into question the unified position of the government and the public. On the one hand, there is a desire to support Ukraine in its struggle for independence and security, and on the other, there are growing voices against further military and financial assistance due to internal fears and uncertainty about the transparency of the processes. This calls into question not only Poland’s future policy towards Ukraine, but also the European attitude to the ongoing conflict in general.