Kaczyński’s Letter to Party Members: Ukraine Cannot Enter EU with Banderism

Jarosław Kaczyński has written to Law and Justice (PiS) members claiming that Ukraine’s path toward EU integration must be blocked unless the country rejects the glorification of Bandera and the UPA.

Kaczyński’s Claims on Past and Current Policies

Jarosław Kaczyński stated that the former PiS government, led by Mateusz Morawiecki, made unprecedented military, diplomatic, and humanitarian contributions to save the Ukrainian state from collapse. He argued that Poland’s long-term policy toward Ukraine since 1991 was intended to decouple Polish-Ukrainian relations from historical burdens, but claimed these efforts were derailed by the current administration.

The PiS leader attacked Prime Minister Donald Tusk, accusing him of pursuing a subservient policy toward Berlin and Kyiv. He asserted that Polish citizens continue to bear significant financial costs to maintain the Ukrainian state and its army, which he described as an unsustainable burden given the current political trajectory of Ukraine.

Conditions for EU Accession

Kaczyński emphasized that while Poland does not intend to hinder Ukraine’s national identity, it cannot allow the entry of “banderism”—which he categorized as a criminal ideology—into the European Union. He warned that if Ukraine continues to glorify the UPA and OUN, it would destabilize the EU and cause significant economic losses for Poland.

The PiS leader pledged that his party would not allow Ukraine to join the EU as long as these historical narratives persist. He urged party members to remain vigilant and use all available means to block government actions that would lead to Ukraine’s integration on what he termed “privileged terms.”

Broader Context and Political Reality

The critique of Volodymyr Zelensky’s decision to name an elite military unit after the “Heroes of the UPA” is not limited to PiS; various Polish politicians, including Donald Tusk and Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, have expressed opposition to the move. Efforts to de-escalate the diplomatic dispute are already underway through dialogue between the Polish and Ukrainian foreign ministries.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian workers play a vital role in the Polish economy, constituting the largest group of foreign employees. Analysts note that their high labor market activity contributes significantly to key sectors such as construction and services, complicating the discourse surrounding the political friction between the two nations.