Polish President Andrzej Duda’s veto on extending aid to Ukrainian citizens has sparked controversy, as Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski claims it effectively cuts off Ukraine’s Starlink internet and data support, while the President’s Office chief Zbigniew Bogucki defends the decision.
Krzysztof Gawkowski on the President’s Veto
“The President’s vetoes are striking blindly! By vetoing the law on aid for Ukrainian citizens, Karol Nawrocki is cutting off internet access for Ukraine, as it effectively means his decision to end support for securely storing the Ukrainian administration’s data,” wrote Krzysztof Gawkowski on social media. He added, “This marks the end of the Starlink internet provision Poland offers to the war-torn Ukraine, as well as the end of support for securely storing the Ukrainian administration’s data.” Gawkowski further claimed, “There is no better gift for Putin’s forces than disconnecting Ukraine from the internet.” He urged Nawrocki to “stop aimlessly striking against the government in the name of political rivalry.” Gawkowski emphasized, “You are harming people fighting for their independence while aiding Russia. Some will call it shame, others betrayal of a neighbor.”
Response from the President’s Office
Zbigniew Bogucki, head of the President’s Office, criticized Gawkowski for creating “manipulations of ideology and disinformation” online. He clarified, “The President’s veto does not disconnect Ukraine from Starlink, as the costs of this connectivity are funded under the currently valid law, and the President’s proposal submitted to the Sejm maintains this status quo.” Bogucki noted that the initiative could be “efficiently processed in the Polish parliament by September.” He also stated that the situation with the data storage support for Ukraine is similar: “You had over a year and a half to present a law fair to Poles and Ukrainians participating in the Polish socio-economic system. You failed, despite promises. Hence, the President of Poland is now stepping in. To paraphrase your post: I cannot imagine a better gift for Putin than fueling Russian disinformation to fracture Poles and Ukrainians.”
What About Starlink for Ukraine?
The current law on aid to Ukrainian citizens ensures that all assistance programs, including maintaining the Starlink service, can only last until the end of September 2025. The rejected amendment sought to extend this period to March 4, 2026. According to Anna Wittenberg of wnp.pl, the veto means “subscription funding is no longer possible.” She reported, “Unofficially, the Ministry of Digitization is in turmoil—the legal department is urgently reviewing current options. In the worst-case scenario, a decision to terminate the SpaceX contract must be made within five days (standard termination periods are a month).” Additionally, the cost of retrieving Starlink terminals loaned to Ukraine, estimated at 10 million zloty by the Ministry of Digitization, could further complicate matters.
Source: Gazeta, https://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/wojsko#anchorLink, https://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/rzad#anchorLink, https://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/do-rzeczy#anchorLink, https://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/parlament#anchorLink, https://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/propaganda#anchorLink
