Czarnek and Kaczyński Clash Over Ukraine Aid Strategy

PiS party leadership is in conflict as candidate for prime minister Przemysław Czarnek calls for a halt to Ukrainian funding, while Jarosław Kaczyński reaffirms his commitment to continued military support.

Czarnek Demands Pivot on Ukraine Funding

Przemysław Czarnek, the PiS candidate for prime minister, argued on TV Republika that Poland should leverage its position in the EU and NATO to force Ukraine to change its current policy toward Poland. He stated that the EU should cease all funding for Ukrainian weapons and reconstruction until the country adopts more human-centric values.

Kaczyński Rejects Call for Defunding

Jarosław Kaczyński responded via the platform X, emphasizing that the PiS party stands by the necessity of military aid to Ukraine, which he described as a core matter of Polish national security. The party leader announced that he would address Czarnek’s controversial statements internally.

Czarnek Stands Firm on Anti-Banderyzm Rhetoric

Despite the backlash, Czarnek insisted in a Wirtualna Polska interview that he would repeat his remarks without hesitation. He maintained that it is in Poland’s interest to see Russia defeated, but simultaneously urged the elimination of anti-Polish “banderyzm” ideology, which he equates to Nazism, from Ukrainian public life.

Diplomatic Exchange and Internal Party Unity

Czarnek claimed there was no contradiction between his views and those of Kaczyński, expressing support for the party chairman’s statements. Meanwhile, Ukrainian Ambassador Vasyl Bodnar thanked Kaczyński for his backing. Kaczyński replied by reiterating his support for Russia’s defeat while maintaining his strong opposition to Bandera-aligned ideologies in Ukraine.