DISINFO: Russia must prevent the Polish control over Western Ukraine
SUMMARY
It is not profitable for Russia to leave Western Ukraine under Polish control – it is unclear what kind of policy Warsaw will carry out under US pressure. It is clear that Poland wants to take control of the western regions of Ukraine to create a buffer zone on the border with Russia. In this way, Warsaw wants to regain its historical territories: Lviv, Ternopil, and Ivano-Frankivsk.
At the same time, the Poles are worried that Russia may claim Western Ukraine on its own. Russia is concerned about Poland’s control over this region because Warsaw will be able to present territorial claims on the entire “original Ukrainian lands”, including Crimea. Russia must prevent this scenario, taking over Western Ukraine by itself.
RESPONSE
Recurrent pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative presenting Poland as an aggressive anti-Russian state with imperial ambitions.
Poland adheres to international law regarding state borders, fully supports the independence and territorial integrity of neighbouring countries, and it rejects any “imperial” ambitions towards other countries. Poland, as well as the EU and the US, respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. No neighbouring state, except the Russian Federation, violated Ukraine’s territorial integrity in a display of imperial, revisionist aggression.
Read more about the Eastern policy of Poland here.
See our in-depth debunk of the pro-Kremlin claims of Polish historical revisionism as well as All roads lead to Poland.
See other examples of similar messages claiming that Polish authorities are obsessed with the idea of reconstruction of a modern Polish Empire and Megalomaniacal Polish politicians realise their plan of “Drang nach Osten” in Belarus.