Leszek Balcerowicz has been convinced for months that the dislike of Ukrainians in Poland is, "honeful and stupid", and her sources are found in Kremlin's actions. The problem is that in 1 bag with real hatred questions about the glorification of UPA, about competition for Polish farmers, or about the pace of Ukraine's entry into the Union are increasingly frequent. Meanwhile, most Poles present have more and more reservations about helping Ukrainians. Is that logic mean or just stupid?
Leszek Balcerowicz about the anti-Ukrainian heyt
In early July 2026, erstwhile Deputy Prime Minister and creator of controversial reforms in the early 1990s published a short but very sharp entry on X. He stated that the anti-Ukrainian hatred in Poland is in his opinion a manifestation of wickedness or foolishness, but 1 does not exclude the other. In his opinion, he speaks of wickedness due to the fact that it is aimed at Putin's aggression victims. In his opinion, foolishness stems from the fact that Ukrainians, defending themselves, indirectly defend Poland as well.
It's mean due to the fact that it's directed against the victims of Putinian Russia's aggression. Stupid due to the fact that Ukrainians defending themselves indirectly defend Poland.
– Leszek Balcerowicz (@LBalcerowicz) 2 July 2026
The minute of publication was not random. It is worth reminding that a fewer weeks earlier, at the end of May 2026, Volodymyr Zelenski gave 1 of the Ukrainian peculiar forces the name “UPA heroes”. This decision sparked fierce criticism in Poland, both from the politicians of the government and from president Karol Nawrocki, who in effect took Zelensk Order of the White Eagle. Shortly after, the economist stated that it is his work to teach Poles about the hate.
Has Balcerovich been repeating this thesis for a long time?
It is worth noting that Balcerovich returns to this subject rather regularly. In August, in a conversation with the service onTemat.pl argued that without Ukrainian workers, the Polish economy would be in a much worse condition. He besides cited estimates that Poland's GDP could be lower by as much as 7%.
Without a million Ukrainians and Ukrainians to work would be much worse.
Leszek Balcerowicz, “Evening on the Theme”, 11 August 2026.
In the same conversation, erstwhile deputy prime minister threw that anti-Ukrainian moods were not only shameful due to the fact that they hit people whose country fell victim to Putin's aggression, but besides stupid. However, it should be recalled that Balcerovich on Ukrainian issues is not precisely an impartial observer. In 2016, then president Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine appointed him as his typical in the local government, where he advised Kiev on reforms.
Where does criticism of Ukraine end, and the hatred begins?
Let's be clear. No reasonable individual defends the names of Ukrainians in the streetcar or the harassment of people with an east accent. This kind of behaviour is simply incorrect and it is hard to disagree with Balcerovich on this point. Xenophobia is in no way good, and the fact that people flee from war to a more safe place is full understandable. The problem with Ukraine lies entirely elsewhere and is that in the public debate, the notion of "anti-Ukrainian hate" is increasingly besides covered by perfectly legitimate doubts and questioning of certain things.
Here we are talking about the glories of UPA, which hits the memory of victims of the Volyn massacre. The same is actual of the interests of Polish farmers who They ask why fertilizers and fuel entering Ukraine are valued below Poland. Further question marks besides give emergence to the pace of integration of Kiev into the Union, especially erstwhile the Ukrainian Minister of Agriculture announces that Ukraine will not agree to the limits for its agricultural products.
Asking questions that may be uncomfortable for 1 organization (which does not mean that they are not important) is not tantamount to spreading hatred. Constructive criticism and questioning of certain issues is not the spreading of hate, contrary to what the erstwhile Deputy Prime Minister says. On the another hand, from the conclusions made by Balcerowicz (whose specialty is economics and not sociology), it is clear that Ukrainians should be either uncritically loved or hated. Meanwhile, relations between 2 neighbouring countries, like any other, are based on different interests, and these are frequently contradictory.
Are Poles negative towards Ukrainians?
If we were to accept Leszek Balcerowicz's line of reasoning, we would gotta admit that, "honorable and stupid" way is being behaved present by the majority of society. Let's take a look at the CBOS survey conducted in July. It shows that for the first time the opponents of receiving refugees from Ukraine (52%) began to exceed supporters (42%). In contrast, in 2022 the support was as much as 94%.
Support for the support of our east neighbour has been steadily falling since 2023, and July 2026 is only a period in which opponents first became majority. More than half of respondents besides believe that Poland is helping Ukrainians besides much. The Poles are besides looking at rapid entry of Ukraine into the European Union.
However, it is hard to admit that all these people succumbed to Russian propaganda or abruptly became vile. It is much more likely that, after more than 4 years of war, they anticipate from the state and their partner neighbour, and not only further gestures of solidarity. The Ukrainian people themselves, the gratitude of which late was mentioned by the head of the MON Władysław Kosiniak Kamysz, indicating it as currency in exchange for sending Polish equipment to Kiev, are simply not adequate today.
What do the Ukrainians themselves say about Poles?
If individual claims that Poland is simply a country consumed by hatred of refugees, it is simply wrong. This is not even confirmed by investigation conducted among the Ukrainian community. How We wrote on Saturday, any Ukrainians tell about unpleasant comments and fear of speaking with an accent. However, according to the Rating Group poll, almost half of Ukrainian refugees (49%) in the last year have not met with discrimination or prejudice in Poland.
Moreover, half of the Ukrainians surveyed declare that they have a warm attitude towards Poles, and 44 percent – neutral. Of those who would like to stay abroad permanently, 40% would choose Poland. It is hard for better proof that curious people do not see Poles as Leszek Balcerowicz describes it.
