Is Poland receiving enough recognition abroad for its assistance to Ukraine? Poles have doubts.

In an interview with Otwarta Konserwa, Klub Jagielloński, and Nowy Ład, President Andrzej Duda summarized his presidency. He spoke, among other things, about Polish support for Ukraine after the outbreak of war in February 2022 and his personal relationship with President Volodymyr Zelensky.

– I believe that my relations with Volodymyr Zelensky have translated into certain political and image benefits for Poland, especially during the first months of Russian aggression against Ukraine, which built a certain lasting image – said Duda, who also pointed out that Poland had not sufficiently exploited the support provided to Ukrainians.

"Yes, it should have been used. Do we get enough profit from it? No, but please remember that besides simply telling the Ukrainians 'we won't help you, you won't get this from us, you won't get that from us,' there are other, much smarter methods that could have been implemented, but unfortunately we didn't," he continued.

The president criticized the attitude of Ukraine and its allies, who considered the Rzeszów airport "theirs." He emphasized that the support provided by Poland was overlooked and diminished. What are Poles' views on this matter? In a survey conducted by SW Research on behalf of "Rzeczpospolita," we asked whether they believed "the assistance Poland has provided to Ukraine since the beginning of the war with Russia has been insufficiently appreciated by its allies and Ukraine."

64.4% of respondents answered "yes." 15.6% of respondents disagreed, and 20% had no opinion on the matter. Men were more likely to say that Poland is underestimated, with 68.2% responding yes. Among women, 12.9% responded yes.

"Nearly two in three survey participants (64%) believe that Poland's assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of the war with Russia is insufficiently appreciated by its allies and Ukraine. This opinion is not shared by 16% of respondents, and one in five has no opinion. Nearly seven in ten men (68%) and six in ten women (61%) believe Poland should be more appreciated. Seven in ten respondents aged 35 to 49 share this view, as does a similar percentage of those with vocational education (67%). Respondents with incomes exceeding PLN 7,000 net (70%) and rural residents (68%) are more likely than the general population to consider Poland's involvement insufficiently appreciated," says Małgorzata Bodzon, Senior Project Manager at SW Research.

Poland's aid to Ukraine after Russia started the war

In 2022 alone, Polish support for Ukraine amounted to approximately 1% of our country's GDP, or PLN 30 billion, announced then-Finance Minister Magdalena Rzeczkowska in early 2023. UNHCR data indicates that approximately one million refugees from Ukraine will be in Poland in 2025. In the first months after the outbreak of the war, reception points were opened in all voivodeships, serving a total of over 1.5 million people. Over 500,000 people used temporary accommodation facilities.

According to calculations available on the website of the Chancellery of the President, Poland ranks first (relative to GDP) among all countries that have committed to providing aid to Ukraine. Poland has allocated the equivalent of 4.91% of GDP to aid, of which 0.71% of GDP is expenditure on support for Ukraine and 4.2% of GDP is the cost of assisting Ukrainian refugees.

Military aid for the Ukrainian army amounts to approximately PLN 15 billion. Approximately 350 tanks, over 250 infantry fighting vehicles, 100 armored personnel carriers, 9 reconnaissance vehicles, over 100 self-propelled guns, and over 30 Grad missile launchers have been deployed to the front lines. We also deployed 14 MiG-29 fighter jets and 12 Mi-24 helicopters. Over 100 million rounds of ammunition have been dispatched from Polish army warehouses, and communications within Ukraine are possible thanks to, among other things, the donation and financing of 20,000 Starlink systems. Approximately 25,000 Ukrainian soldiers have traveled to the country as part of training programs organized in Poland.

In the first two years of the war, humanitarian aid to Ukraine included 11,000 tons of food worth PLN 205 million and medicines worth PLN 60 million. 70,000 cubic meters of fuel and 4,000 residential containers were also delivered.

As of November 1, the government will phase out the free housing and meals program for Ukrainians. After October 31, regional governors will be able to provide assistance to limited groups. By June 30, 2024, over 2 million Ukrainians had benefited from such assistance.