As Poland becomes an increasingly influential political and economic contributor to the European Union, its friendship becomes more vital to Ukraine - yet the Ukrainian government appears to be neglecting that friendship in its dealings with the West
Poland has long been a firm friend of Ukraine in the EU, clearly stating it supports the country politically and economically as it struggles to confront Russia’s land grab in Crimea and war in the Donbas.
Polish officials have frequently called on other Western countries to strengthen NATO’s presence in eastern Europe, and to support Ukraine economically while slapping sanctions on Russia.
Poland’s rise is reflected by the appointment of the nation’s forme prime minister, Donald Tusk, to president of the European Council.
The recent adoption of a smaller Ukraine crisis negotiating group, comprised of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine in the Normandy format, may have sidelined Poland lately, but likely not for long, analysts believe. Poland’s reputation will not be affected if the Minsk agreement, already on the brink, collapses completely.
“As we see, the Normandy format doesn’t work and any future solution would have to include Poland as a new player,” Yaroslav Hrytsak, a Ukrainian historian, told the Kyiv Post, adding that luckily for Ukraine, Poland is emerging as a new center of power in the EU.
Pigeons crowd the square in front of Saint Mary’s Basilica in Krakow, Poland, in this 2005 file photo. (AFP)
However, leadership often means compromising, and analysts are now criticizing Tusk, arguing he was a stronger Ukrainian advocate before his appointment and that his diplomatic role has forced him to adopt a softer position in relation to Russia.
Polish historian Lukasz Jasina is especially critical of Tusk’s new rhetoric: “Everyone was shocked. Everyone was sure that Tusk will be the tough one with Russia and Federica Mogherini (EU chief diplomat) would be the one to compromise – but there is no feasible difference (between them),” he said.
Others argue that Tusk is acting as a successful mediator, playing a more subtle role in forming the EU position on Ukraine.
“Tusk is more clear than Mogherini on handling this crisis and is successfully acting as a facilitator between the member states,” analyst at the Polish Institute of International Affairs Ievgen Vorobiov said.
Experts agree that though a persistent and principled ally of Ukraine, Poland has long been taken for granted. According to Poland’s Jasina, Warsaw has been neglected by the new Ukrainian government with President Petro Poroshenko feeling he can make arrangements directly with the West.
The delayed mutual visits of the countries’ prime ministers could be an indicator of Ukrainian neglect.
“A lot of Ukrainian mistakes are accidental, no one intended to hurt Poland. Polish society is still a big Ukrainian advocate,” says Jasina. He adds that Ukraine should think more of its experienced allies – Sweden, besides Poland.
Nonetheless, it took Poland only one day to join the UK after Prime Minister David Cameron announced his intention to send troops to Ukraine on Feb. 24. The final announcement on some dozens of Polish military experts’ trip to Ukraine will be made at the end of March, according to Reuters.
That may be because Poland’s interest in Ukraine’s development isn’t purely altruistic, explains Marek Tatala of Civil Development Forum, a think tank in Poland.
“It’s in our interest to have strong neighbor with a strong economy, territorially united and without internal conflict and war,” he says.
Kyiv Post staff writer Olena Gordiienko can be reached at [email protected].
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