A recent survey indicates a decline in Polish support for Ukraine amid the ongoing war, with a rise in opposition to military aid and negative sentiment towards Ukrainians, particularly among younger generations.
Support for Ukraine is waning within Poland as Kyiv enters the fourth year of a war initiated by Vladimir Putin. A recent survey reveals a concerning trend: over the past year, the proportion of Poles opposed to providing military assistance to Ukraine has surged from slightly over a quarter to over one-third. Furthermore, the survey indicates a rise in negative sentiments towards Ukrainians in Poland , particularly among younger demographics.
This development comes amidst the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's rejection of statements made by Polish President Andrzej Duda regarding the potential risks posed by traumatized Ukrainian soldiers returning from combat. Duda, in an interview with the Financial Times, expressed concerns about a potential surge in cross-border crime stemming from these soldiers returning to war-torn towns lacking job opportunities. While Duda has been a vocal supporter of Ukraine, tensions between Kyiv and Warsaw have simmered in recent months, notably over the exhumation of Polish victims of World War II atrocities in Ukraine.Poland has been a steadfast ally of Ukraine, providing military aid, financial support, and training for Kyiv's armed forces. However, the survey, conducted by polling firm ARC Rynek i Opinia on behalf of the Mieroszewski Centre, which promotes ties between Warsaw and the peoples of eastern Europe, suggests a potential cooling of support from a key NATO member. The study, which surveyed 1,012 individuals aged 18 to 65 across Poland in November and December, revealed that the number of Poles opposing military aid to Ukraine increased from 26 percent to 35 percent, while those supporting it dropped by five percentage points to 49 percent. A particularly alarming finding was the rise in negative attitudes towards Ukrainians in Poland, climbing from 27 percent to 30 percent, while positive views dipped from 25 percent to 23 percent. This trend is particularly pronounced among younger generations, with only 16 percent of Poles aged 18-34 holding favorable views of Ukrainians, compared to 37 percent who expressed negative opinions. The survey highlights a growing fatigue among Poles regarding their Ukrainian neighbors. This shift in public sentiment could pose significant challenges for Ukraine, especially if it relies heavily on European assistance as U.S. support potentially diminishes under the new administration
Ukraine Poland War Support Military Aid Public Opinion Demographics
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