A debate is ongoing in Poland between two approaches toward Ukraine: a partnership-based approach and a competitive one, and it is still unclear which will prevail.
This opinion was expressed in an interview with Ukrinform by well-known Polish publicist and President of the Board of the Stefan Batory Foundation, Edwin Bendyk.
“A debate is underway in Poland between two competing approaches. One is based on the belief that Ukraine’s integration into the European security and development space serves Poland’s national interests and will benefit both countries. The other is driven by concerns about economic competition, particularly in the agricultural sector. For now, these concerns often outweigh strategic considerations,” the expert said.
At the same time, he believes that the success of Ukrainian reforms and progress toward EU integration strengthen the position of those who support partnership.
“How Polish society ultimately answers this question remains uncertain. Personally, I hope that the vision of Ukraine as a strategic partner prevails over perceptions of it as a problem or a threat,” he noted.
