Negative views of Polish-Ukrainian relations reach highest level on record in Poland

A record-high 46% of Poles now view the Polish-Ukrainian relationship in a negative light, according to the latest data from state research agency CBOS. This marks a sharp rise from just 12% who viewed relations positively as recently as three years ago. Meanwhile, the belief among Poles that reconciliation between the two neighbors is achievable has hit an all-time low of 53%, down from 78% in mid-2023.

These troubling findings come amid a diplomatic crisis triggered by President Volodymyr Zelensky naming a military unit after a group known for massacring Poles during World War Two. While Poland welcomed millions of Ukrainian refugees after Russia's invasion in February 2022, tensions have resurfaced over issues like Ukrainian agricultural exports, border blockades by Polish farmers, and the difficult shared history during the war.

When asked who is responsible for the current state of relations, 65% of those who view things negatively blame Ukraine, with only 4% placing the blame on Poland. The lowest point for reconciliation belief came at 53% - a stark contrast to the record-high 81% in the early 2000s. Long-standing historical tensions, particularly over the Volhynia massacres in World War Two, have once again come to the forefront, prompting a diplomatic dispute between the two nations.