A crowd waving Polish, Ukrainian, and EU flags has gathered outside of the Russian Embassy in Warsaw with banners accusing Russia of being a terrorist state. People chanted “Slava Ukraina” and called Russians murderers and terrorists.
The organizers of the demonstration have accused the Russians of unleashing “total war.” They also called on the international community to give Ukraine total and unreserved support. The demonstration was organized by Euromaidan Warsaw and the left-wing National Women’s Strike.
The groups are demanding the expulsion of Russian diplomats from Warsaw. It also called on Poland and all Western governments to send all the fighter planes, tanks, and anti-aircraft defense systems Ukraine needs to secure its cities. The demonstration organizers also called for more help for Ukrainian refugees.
Poland has been at the forefront of the humanitarian, military, and refugee support efforts for Ukraine. Ukrainians arriving in Poland have been given social security numbers so that they can work legally, the right to use healthcare services, and the ability to send their children to Polish state schools.
In addition, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians have been provided shelter in Polish homes, thereby avoiding the need for the creation of long-term refugee camps.
Poland has also been at the forefront of the diplomatic efforts to help Ukraine. It has argued for the toughest possible sanctions on Russia and suspended coal imports from Russia in the spring ahead of the EU embargo.
Poland has also supported Ukrainian membership of the EU and is on record supporting Ukrainian membership of NATO. Alongside the U.S. and the U.K., the Ukrainians view Poland as one of its greatest allies.
The issue of support for Ukraine in its war against Russia is generally not a matter of political divide in Poland, nor among all the major political parties. The exception is the Confederation party, which tends to have more sympathies for Russia, partly as a reaction to its rejection of left-liberal Western values.
