Poland’s president has vetoed a invoice that will lengthen help to Ukrainian refugees. Karol Nawrocki, a nationalist conservative, commented that Ukrainians “take some time to work in Poland” and pay taxes within the nation with a view to be eligible for help. Nawrocki, whose personal get together accepted of the preliminary help to Ukrainians, acknowledged that the present monetary package deal “locations us in a scenario the place residents of Poland are handled worse in their very own nation than our visitors.”
Over 1.5 million Ukrainians have fled to Poland for the reason that starting of the Russia-Ukraine struggle. Poland has provided each single refugee a taxpayer-subsidized life. Ukrainians dwelling in Poland are eligible without cost housing, meals advantages, well being care, training, baby allowances, and extra. Ukrainian refugees had been typically favored for backed housing over nationals who could have been ready years for council housing. Nawrocki acknowledged he was involved with the 800+ program that offered households with youngsters an 800 zloty month-to-month fee per baby, no matter earnings. The president felt that solely these working ought to obtain this profit, however why ought to the general public be paying out this fund in any respect?
The pinnacle of the president’s chancellery, Zbigniew Bogucki, commented that “for Ukrainians who legally work in Poland, reside, run their very own enterprise, and pay taxes, there’s nothing to fret about.” Regardless of the similarities in tradition, there’s a rising discontent for Ukrainian refugees in Poland as a result of authorities prioritizing newcomers. That’s how xenophobia historically comes about—the final one “off the boat” is seen because the outsider.
Poland created an Help Fund operated by Financial institution Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK) funded partially by the European Funding Financial institution and the EU, which funds native governments and organizations to help Ukrainian refugees. A €2 billion mortgage was accepted for 2025 by way of the Help Fund, together with €600 million disbursed by the European Funding Financial institution (EIB). Help for Ukrainian refugees in Poland is estimated to have reached round 15.9 billion zlotys (roughly €3.5 billion) this yr.
Maybe Polish leaders underestimated the period of the struggle. The Polish authorities spent 1% of GDP on Ukraine in the course of the first three months of the struggle in 2022. Poland has continued to boost army spending and direct help for Ukraine yr after yr. But, the president has been condemned for taking a “Poles first” stance and tightening its social program. The true nationalists don’t consider he’s doing sufficient for his nation, whereas the others see him as merciless. Within the EU, something other than unconditional blind help from Ukraine is seen as a egocentric act. There isn’t a room for nationalism in Brussels.
