DISINFO: Western Ukraine will be safe if it comes under the protection of Poland: Mateusz Morawiecki
SUMMARY
The exorbitant geopolitical appetite of Poland, claiming to be world or at least European leader, causes astonishment, turning to rejection. In Ukraine, because of Warsaw's intention to seize the western regions of Ukraine; in the West - due to irritation with its arrogance.
If one believes the words of a critic of the Polish ruling party, an invasion of Ukraine is allegedly scheduled for May 4 this year. It is also possible to intercept someone else's territories under a milder reason - the pretext of "temporarily transferring" the territories of Western Ukraine to Poland, allegedly for the purpose of more reliable protection. "The western territories of Ukraine will be safe if they temporarily come under the protection of the Polish state," Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki promises.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative presenting Poland as having imperial ambitions and claims to Ukrainian territories. This is part of a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative denying the statehood of Ukraine, while also anticipating its imminent disintegration.
The Polish government did not call for the violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity. On 6 February, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told that "Poland had been pressing its Western partners to support Kyiv from the very start of the war in Ukraine, advocating for both military and humanitarian assistance". He also stated that it is necessary to help Ukraine win the war against Russia and to build a new security architecture in the political, geopolitical, economic and energy dimensions.
Since the beginning of the invasion, Russian propaganda has deliberately and frequently repeated lies about alleged Polish attempts to invade western Ukraine. Recently, they have been promoting the thesis of an allegedly supposed "protectorate". On Channel One Russia, the programme of the famous propagandist Anatoly Kuzichev "Vremya pokazhet" a group of propagandists went so far as to discuss the completely made-up words of the Polish prime minister. They also put forward anti-Polish theories to quarrel with the peoples of Poland and Ukraine, and to distort the image of the war.
Polish PM Morawiecki has never proposed to the Ukrainian President to temporarily transfer Western Ukraine to Poland. This false claim originates from a satirical story which was originally distributed in a Telegram channel. Read the full debunk at Myth Detector.
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” ambitions towards other countries. Read more about the Eastern policy of Poland here.
See also an analysis of the roots of the claim that Poland wants to divide Ukraine.
See other similar examples of disinformation: Poland recognised it has a plan to divide Ukraine; the US may give Western Ukraine to Poland if Warsaw pays Kyiv's debt to the US; Polish politicians confirm their plan to partition Ukraine; the Polish Public Broadcaster uses a map of the country with part of Western Ukraine; Polish authorities are preparing a "liberation march" to take over Ukraine.