The level of sympathy of Ukrainians towards Poland and Poles has fallen from 83 percent in 2022 to 41 percent now, according to research by the Ukrainian studio Info Sapiens commissioned by the Mieroszewski Center.
According to the poll, when asked about their opinion of Poles, 4 percent of surveyed Ukrainians responded that it was “very good,” 37 percent that it was “good,” 53 percent that it was “neutral,” 4 percent that it was “bad,” 1 percent that it was “very bad,” and another 1 percent had no opinion.
Meanwhile, in 2022, these values were as follows: 46 percent said it was “very good,” 37 percent that it was “good,” 15 percent said “neutral,” 2 percent had no opinion, and there were no “bad” or “very bad” indications at all.
WATCH: 🇵🇱🚜 Chaos in Poland as farmers revolt
Polish farmers are holding demonstrations in several major cities across the country and blockading key transit routes on the border with Ukraine.
Protests are expected in 260 locations across Poland and will last for 30 days! pic.twitter.com/ivRu1vgGAI
— Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) February 9, 2024“We are unable to talk about the scale of aid provided to our neighbor, and the protests of Polish farmers on the border with Ukraine and the emotions accompanying the war have a major impact on moods, while Russia is exploiting historical fears, these are the conclusions of the Mieroszewski Centre report ‘Poland and Poles through the eyes of Ukrainians 2024,'” reported Rzeczpospolita.
The survey was conducted by the Ukrainian Info Sapiens agency on behalf of the Mieroszewski Center from November 1 to 11 this year using the CATI method on a random sample of 1,008 Ukrainians.
In turn, Poles have also soured on Ukrainians to some extent. For example, a majority of Poles now support returning Ukrainians of fighting age to Ukraine. Young Poles are also more likely to see Ukrainians as foes rather than as neighbors.
Numerous disputes — from everything from cement exports to the exhumation of Polish bodies from WWII-era graves — have fueled tensions between the two countries.
