DISINFO: Poland plans to establish control over the west of Ukraine
SUMMARY
Poland's plans to establish control over the west of Ukraine are dangerous for all of Europe. Indeed, it is dangerous. Dangerous for Ukraine, dangerous for all of Europe. The fact is that there are quite a few points on the European continent where neighbours silently claim the territory of neighbouring states.
Therefore, if Poland opens this Pandora's box, it will not seem little to anyone. This can significantly complicate the situation on the European continent and, of course, lower the level of international security.
RESPONSE
Recurring narrative presenting Poland as a state with imperial aims.
The claim that Poland plans to establish control over the west of Ukraine is ungrounded. Poland adheres to international law regarding state borders, fully supports the independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, it does not have any territorial claims against its neighbours and it rejects any “imperial” aims towards other countries. Read more about the Eastern policy of Poland here.
This narrative attempts to exploit difficult issues in Polish-Ukrainian history, without any factual basis.
It is Russia that started an unprovoked war in Europe, capturing more and more territories of a neighbouring country and has created a serious danger to European security.
Poland was the first country to recognise Ukraine’s independence, in 1991. Poland, as well as the EU and the US respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. No neighbouring state, except the Russian Federation, has violated Ukraine's territorial integrity.
Instead, Poland is supporting Ukrainian refugees coming to Poland; it is allowing millions of Ukrainians fleeing the war access the labour market and to health and social benefits. Moreover, Poland is activly supporting Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion.
On 12 March 2022 the Polish parliament passed an act on assistance for Ukrainian nationals in connection with Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The special purpose act, in addition to regulating a number of issues related to the refugee’s stay in Poland, allows for favorable tax treatment of humanitarian aid expenditures incurred by corporations.
See the EU's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine here along with EU vs Disinfo's Guide to Deciphering Pro-Kremlin disinformation around Putin's War.
See earlier disinformation cases alleging that Poles are stoking nationalist sentiment in Ukraine in order to annex Lviv, that Poland thinks that Western Ukraine, Western Belarus and South-Western Lithuania belong to them, that Poland wants to dismember Ukraine and re-establish a Polish empire, that Ukraine will disintegrate and fall prey to territorial claims of EU member states, that Ukraine is a Western colony belonging to Poland, Hungary, Romania, and Russia, that Poland will try to gain full military control in Ukrainian territories under the guise of protecting the Polish population from Russia, that Poland plans to establish control over its historical lands in Ukraine.