Polish opposition to EU membership for Ukraine surges – poll
Nearly 60% of Poles now oppose Kiev joining the bloc, compared to 42% a year ago, IBRiS surveys show
Nearly six in ten Poles now oppose Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, up from four in ten a year ago, according to two IBRiS opinion polls cited by Polish media.
The latest survey, conducted for Radio ZET, found that 59.7% of respondents oppose Ukrainian membership. Last year, an IBRiS poll for Defence24 and the Stand With Ukraine initiative put that figure at 42%.
The comparison suggests that public opinion has hardened. While support for Ukraine’s EU membership has remained broadly stable at around 35%, the share of undecided respondents has fallen from roughly one-quarter to just 5%, with most appearing to have shifted into the opposition camp.
Poland has been one of Ukraine’s staunchest political and military backers since the escalation of the conflict with Russia in 2022, supplying weapons, hosting millions of refugees, and consistently supporting Kiev’s integration into the EU and NATO.
Despite Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s continued backing for Ukraine’s EU bid, the issue has become increasingly contentious in Poland, fueled by disputes over agriculture and historical grievances.
Relations have further deteriorated since last month over the ‘Heroes of the UPA’ controversy, with Warsaw accusing Kiev of glorifying a nationalist movement implicated in wartime massacres of Poles.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki said that for “the vast majority of Polish society,” the UPA remains synonymous with atrocities committed against Poles during World War II. Poland officially recognizes the Volhynia massacres carried out by the UPA and affiliated Ukrainian formations as genocide, and several senior Polish politicians have argued that Kiev cannot expect Warsaw’s support for EU membership until the dispute is resolved.
Meanwhile, Polish farmers have continued to protest, arguing that Ukraine’s preferential access to the EU market has created unfair competition. They warn that Ukraine’s eventual accession could further erode their market share and reduce Poland’s share of EU agricultural subsidies. In February, Deputy Parliament Speaker Piotr Zgorzelski warned that fast-tracking Ukraine into the bloc would “spell the death of Polish agriculture.”
11 thoughts on “Polish opposition to EU membership for Ukraine surges – poll”
So the bottom line is nearly 60% of Poles now oppose Kiev joining the bloc, compared to 42% a year ago, IBRiS surveys. Wonder how this will land.
What stands out is the latest survey, conducted for Radio ZET, found that 59.7% of respondents oppose Ukrainian membership. That is the part worth paying attention to.
The bigger issue here is the latest survey, conducted for Radio ZET, found that 59.7% of respondents oppose Ukrainian membership. That changes the calculation.
What stands out is despite Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s continued backing for Ukraine’s EU bid, the issue has become increasingly contentious in Poland, fueled by disputes over agriculture and historical grievances. That is the part worth paying attention to.
The comparison suggests that public opinion has hardened. Meanwhile despite Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s continued backing for Ukraine’s EU bid, the issue has become increasingly contentious in Poland, fueled by disputes over agriculture and historical grievances.
Basically nearly six in ten Poles now oppose Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, up from four in ten a year ago, according to two IBRiS opinion polls cited by Polish media. What matters is whether anything changes because of it.
On one hand the comparison suggests that public opinion has hardened. But at the same time despite Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s continued backing for Ukraine’s EU bid, the issue has become increasingly contentious in Poland, fueled by disputes over agriculture and historical grievances.
Considering despite Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s continued backing for Ukraine’s EU bid, the issue has become increasingly contentious in Poland, fueled by disputes over agriculture and historical grievances, it raises some real questions about what happens next.
So the bottom line is the latest survey, conducted for Radio ZET, found that 59.7% of respondents oppose Ukrainian membership. Wonder how this will land.
So the bottom line is nearly 60% of Poles now oppose Kiev joining the bloc, compared to 42% a year ago, IBRiS surveys. Wonder how this will land.
What stands out is the latest survey, conducted for Radio ZET, found that 59.7% of respondents oppose Ukrainian membership. That is the part worth paying attention to.
The bigger issue here is the latest survey, conducted for Radio ZET, found that 59.7% of respondents oppose Ukrainian membership. That changes the calculation.
What stands out is despite Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s continued backing for Ukraine’s EU bid, the issue has become increasingly contentious in Poland, fueled by disputes over agriculture and historical grievances. That is the part worth paying attention to.
The comparison suggests that public opinion has hardened. Meanwhile despite Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s continued backing for Ukraine’s EU bid, the issue has become increasingly contentious in Poland, fueled by disputes over agriculture and historical grievances.
Basically nearly six in ten Poles now oppose Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, up from four in ten a year ago, according to two IBRiS opinion polls cited by Polish media. What matters is whether anything changes because of it.
On one hand the comparison suggests that public opinion has hardened. But at the same time despite Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s continued backing for Ukraine’s EU bid, the issue has become increasingly contentious in Poland, fueled by disputes over agriculture and historical grievances.
Considering despite Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s continued backing for Ukraine’s EU bid, the issue has become increasingly contentious in Poland, fueled by disputes over agriculture and historical grievances, it raises some real questions about what happens next.
The detail about nearly 60% of Poles now oppose Kiev joining the bloc, compared to 42% a year ago, IBRiS surveys is something people should sit with.
So the bottom line is the latest survey, conducted for Radio ZET, found that 59.7% of respondents oppose Ukrainian membership. Wonder how this will land.
Think about it: the latest survey, conducted for Radio ZET, found that 59.7% of respondents oppose Ukrainian membership. That speaks volumes.