Support among Poles for their Ukrainian guests has slumped dramatically, with many now opposing benefits. An increasingly number also regard their attitude as demanding, according to a study.
The research published in daily Rzeczpospolita conducted by researchers from Warsaw University shows changes in attitudes between April 2022, January 2023 and May. It shows that the number of Poles who believe Poland should be helping Ukraine during the time of war has fallen from 62 to 42 per cent in just a matter of five months.
There are also fewer people who feel positive about Polish help for Ukraine. The level of support is now at 35 per cent compared with January, though the number expressing a negative view remains low at 10 percent.
Only 10 percent think Poland should be doing more to help Ukraine, down from 21 percent in January, while 72 per cent feel the most appropriate support Poland should offer Ukraine is through diplomatic means.
The number expressing strong support for Ukrainian refugees has fallen from 49 to 28 per cent. Half of the sample was against Poland receiving more refugees from Ukraine and most want them to return home after the war is over. Only 21 per cent were in favour of allowing them to settle permanently in Poland, down from 37 per cent in January.
But the greatest scepticism is reserved for the issue of social benefits for Ukrainians, where 60 per cent are opposed to giving Ukrainians the same rights as Poles, down from 47 per cent five months ago. Only 18 per cent are still in favour of Ukrainians having equal benefits rights.
Poles are now also opposed to funding housing and living costs of Ukrainians from Polish state funds. The number opposed has risen from 10 to 49 per cent.
Meanwhile, 85 per cent admitted that in recent months their view of Ukrainians has changed. According to the Warsaw University researchers this is because of the attitude of many Ukrainians, whom Poles now feel are ‘demanding’.
Among the 39 per cent who mentioned this as the reason for a change of heart were comments such as “they think they have a right to everything” and “they want everything for free”. And 50 per cent of the sample also indicated that Ukrainians are “culturally different” from Poles.
Poland’s ruling Conservatives have been strongly supportive of all forms of aid for Ukrainians. The country has received widespread international praise for its welcome for Ukrainian refugees. However, the latest research demonstrates that the issue may be an awkward one in the coming election for the ruling party.
A rival party of the right, ‘Confederation’, is gaining ground in the polls with between 11-14 percent of the vote. Their appeal is largely to the young and centred around libertarian and free market ideas. However, they are also the only party in Poland which has expressed doubts about Poland’s aid for Ukraine and criticised the ruling party for giving Ukraine carte blanche support in the war.
