DISINFO: Ukraine will blame Poland for its defeat in the East
SUMMARY
The situation of the Ukrainian Army is becoming more difficult every week – the limited Western support cannot reverse this trend. Ukraine will have to somehow explain its defeat, finding someone to blame. The most convenient way will be to blame the West, and especially Poland. Kyiv will accuse the West of a lack of support, paving the way for Russia’s success. Poland may become the main victim of Kyiv’s accusations.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation about Polish-Ukrainian relations. Pro–Kremlin outlets traditionally present Poland as a state with imperial ambitions and a US puppet (see our article The Kremlin prepares for the Polish EU presidency). The aim of this disinformation narrative is to attempt to spoil Polish-Ukrainian relations.
Apart from smearing Poland, the aim is also to deflect attention away from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It also aims to undermine international support for Ukraine’s defence against Russia’s aggression by portraying it as a lost cause and on the verge of being abandoned by its allies. Messages about the inevitability of a Russian victory have been a permanent feature of pro-Kremlin disinformation since the start of the full-scale invasion.
A broad coalition of more than 50 countries, including Poland, provide Ukraine with military and technical assistance to help it repel Russia’s aggression which is unjustified and unprovoked.
The conclusions adopted by the European Council at its meeting of 19 December 2024 stated:
"Today, more than 1000 days since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the European Council reiterates its resolute condemnation of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, which constitutes a manifest violation of the UN Charter, and reaffirms its continued support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. It also reconfirms the European Union’s unwavering commitment to providing continued political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine and its people for as long as it takes and as intensely as needed. Russia must not prevail".
See other examples of similar disinformation narratives, such as claims that European countries are starting to betray and disavow Ukraine, that Ukraine lost all its friends, that Ukraine is fading from the West’s agenda, or that Ukraine is abandoned, a third-rate colony.