Polish parliament condemns Russia and calls on NATO and EU to support Ukraine

Poland’s parliament has condemned Russia for violating international law and undermining peace in Europe, while also calling on NATO and the European Union to offer a “firmer” response to Moscow and more “comprehensive support” to Ukraine.

The resolution was passed almost unanimously, with 456 votes in favour and only one against. The single dissenter was Grzegorz Braun, an MP from the far-right Confederation (Konfederacja) party who has been accused of having sympathies and ties with Russia.

The resolution was drafted by The Left (Lewica), the second-largest opposition group, and supported by all the main caucuses in the Sejm, the lower house of parliament, including that of the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party and Civic Coalition (KO), the largest opposition group.

The document expresses “concern” at Russia’s activity towards Ukraine, which “poses a serious risk of causing an armed conflict and destabilising Europe, which is against the interests of Poland”. It “expressed opposition” to the Kremlin’s policies, which “violate international law and destroy the order and peace in Europe”.

The bill also appeals to NATO governments and the EU to “provide comprehensive support to Ukraine” as well as to offer a “firmer response” to Russia. Given Poland’s historical experiences in the 20th century, it is the country’s “duty” to call on allies and partners to take joint action.

Moreover, the Sejm criticised the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that will bring gas directly from Russia to Germany, bypassing Central and Eastern Europe. It said that the project was “shattering European unity in the face of aggressive actions of the Russian Federation”.

Poland’s government has consistently opposed Nord Stream 2, which the prime minister last year said was the result of a “brutal German-Russian alliance”. Donald Tusk, the leader of KO, also declared in September that the pipeline was an “unforgivable mistake” that is “against EU interests”.

Yesterday’s resolution also expressed support for Ukraine’s right to self-determination. “Ukraine’s path to membership in the European Union and NATO must remain open, and its right to accession is indisputable,” said the document.

Explaining his decision to vote against the resolution, Braun argued that unconditional support should not be given to Ukraine, which he noted has recently been blocking rail shipments to Poland amid a trade dispute.

He also called for Ukraine to grant Poland “free access to places of execution of Poles in Ukraine, the right to investigate and commemorate them, to stop the glorification of the Bandera genocides [by Ukrainian nationalists against ethnic Poles during World War Two] and so on”.

Braun – a far-right extremist who has promoted conspiracy theories about Jews, homosexuals, Masons and Covid vaccines – has been accused in the past of Russia ties, including with a Russian journalist expelled from Poland on suspicion of espionage. Braun has denied the claims.

The other eight MPs from Braun’s Confederation party who were present yesterday all voted in favour of the resolution.

Poland has been a vocal backer of Ukraine as western leaders convened this week to discuss the growing threat of a Russian invasion. Senior Polish officials, including President Andrzej Duda, have pledged to send weapons and ammunition to Ukraine, said Kyiv’s ambassador to Warsaw this week.

Today Duda has today convened a meeting of the National Security Council with Poland’s top security officials and leaders of the opposition to discuss the situation.

Earlier this week, the heads of the Catholic church in Poland and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic church issued a joint appeal calling for support for Ukraine and criticising Russia for “disregarding international law”.

Main image credit: Taras Gren/Ministry of Defense of Ukraine (under CC BY-SA 2.0)

Maria Wilczek

Maria Wilczek is deputy editor of Notes from Poland. She is a regular writer for The Times, The Economist and Al Jazeera English, and has also featured in Foreign Policy, Politico Europe, The Spectator and Gazeta Wyborcza.