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submitted 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) by StillDepressedMan@reddthat.com to c/europe@feddit.org

Why Poland and Ukraine Are Facing Their Worst Crisis in Years https://youtu.be/ED509nskSmc

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[-] timochka@lemmy.zip 12 points 4 days ago

At least a half dozen countries will block Ukraine joining the EU in its current state, and another dozen will secretly be glad they don't have to take the flack.

Ukraine is decades away from EU membership. Anyone suggesting otherwise is doing all concerned a disservice (yes, looking at you UVdL.)

[-] StillDepressedMan@reddthat.com 3 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

But the EU has already opened its market to certain goods from Ukraine, including food. They do not have to meet the same strict standards, so their lower prices can easily push European producers out of the market. It is also worth mentioning that we end up consuming thesee products which is ... I don't know what to say.

[-] 87Six@lemmy.zip 5 points 4 days ago

can you elaborate what's wrong with them? Are they just lower standard, use worse pesticides, etc? A search yields nothing relevant

[-] StillDepressedMan@reddthat.com 2 points 4 days ago

Ukrainian producers do not necessarily have to follow all the same animal welfare and environmental production standards as EU farmers. As you said, they may also use certain pesticides that are not approved for use in the EU.

I should also mention that Poland introduced an embargo on certain Ukrainian agricultural products despite opposition from Brussels. We are still an independent country, and we will protect our farmers and our food standards. As a vegan, I also want to know that animals are treated as well as possible, but that is my personal point of view.

[-] StillDepressedMan@reddthat.com 1 points 4 days ago

I am definitely not an expert on this topic, so I recommend looking up the sources yourself. :)

[-] tardigrade@scribe.disroot.org 17 points 4 days ago

Here is another video:

Polish PM Tusk: "This crisis has gone too far" (alt Invidious link)

Emotions are running high around Polish-Ukrainian relations and the dispute over the UPA's historical legacy. During a press conference, [Poland's] Prime Minister Donald Tusk responded to questions about the escalating tensions online, including the emergence of videos targeting Polish companies and containing aggressive slogans referencing the Volhynia tragedy. The Prime Minister unequivocally pointed out that the provocations are the work of nationalist extremists on both sides of the border and the organized activity of Russian bots, who view the diplomatic crisis between Warsaw and Kyiv as a strategic propaganda target.

[-] RidderSport@feddit.org 13 points 4 days ago

You are aware that this can and should be solved by diplomacy? The naming is not smart. But it was likely for domestic policy reasons and probably not to antagonize Poland or its people.

Taking back the medal is also mostly domestic policy to curb righ-wing popularity from growing. Yet it is also a public affront to Ukraine.

Therefore both sides should work for a diplomatic solution and not inflate this topic beyond a sensible degree. Ukraine won't join the EU anytime soon anyway, there's still plenty of time to change this.

However, this post and the videos give Russian propaganda vibes, it's likely meant to sow disagreement in the EU

[-] StillDepressedMan@reddthat.com 8 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

List of Polish Military Aid to Ukraine

source

Aid to Ukrainian Refugees

Following the 2014–2015 Russian military intervention in Ukraine, including its annexation of Crimea ("Helsinki Declaration"), the situation changed dramatically. Poland began taking in large numbers of refugees from the Russo-Ukrainian War as part of the EU's refugee program. The policy of strategic partnership between Kyiv and Warsaw was extended to military and technical cooperation, but the more immediate task, informed Poland's State secretary Krzysztof Szczerski, was Ukraine's constitutional reform leading to broad decentralization of power. The number of applications for refugee status rose 50 times following the start of War in Donbas in 2014. At the time most applicants were not eligible to claim refugee protection in Poland, because Ukraine as a sovereign country with a democratic government remained fully accountable to its citizens. While the conflict remained frozen until 2022, resident visas in Poland were available in other immigration categories. After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine newly arriving refugees may apply under the standard EU asylum procedure or receive emergency temporary protection.

In 2022, Poland took in almost 1.5 million Ukrainian refugees. The migration resulted in a 50% rise in the population of Rzeszów, the largest city in south-eastern Poland. Warsaw's population increased by 15%, Kraków's by 23%, and Gdańsk's by 34%. Ukrainian refugees have the legal right to reside and work across the European Union. They are also entitled to the same benefits as Poles, including health insurance, free public education, and child allowance. Before the war, the presence of Ukrainians on the Polish labor market was significant. It has been presumed that employing several hundred thousand more people should not be a problem (this is already partially corroborated by the fact that nearly 150,000 newly arrived war refugees have entered the Polish labor market). However, such an outlook can be overly optimistic.

The recent influx consists primarily of women with children, whereas prior to the war, Ukrainians in Poland were predominantly employed in male-dominated occupations. Thus, there may be disparities between the available talents and the requirements of the labor market. This will necessitate a very high level of training and retraining opportunities tailored to the Ukrainian professional profile. Additional measures will be required to prevent threats such as workplace exploitation, abuse, and sexual harassment, which are to be expected given the magnitude of the phenomenon and the limited bargaining power of war refugees.

In the short term, due to the uniqueness of the situation, tensions can be easily avoided, but they are expected to emerge in the medium and long term. Especially people using public services may experience a deterioration in the standard of living due to the presence of war refugees who will also be entitled to state support. A similar situation may also take place in the labor market, with possible adverse effects, particularly on the local scale. These risks should be identified, monitored and addressed through well-tailored public policies, including communication campaigns.

Less than a month after the invasion, the Polish government established the Aid Fund, run by Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego, which funds all actions and programs aimed at assisting and integrating Ukrainian refugees.

In January 2025, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk supported proposals to reduce benefits for Ukrainian refugees in Poland. From 1 July 2026, Ukrainian refugees, including the elderly, were no longer provided with free refugee accommodation to encourage Ukrainians to return home after four years of support, or to support themselves financially. The cost of the support has been estimated at 40 billion złoty (£8 billion).

soruce

[-] endofline@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Just saying: knowing how long Croatia had to wait to get into eu because of unsettled issues with Serbia ( controversial operation storm ) and deal with the past issues, that would be unfair to anybody ( and Balkan countries ) if Ukraine literally went in with no questions asked ( and yes, "ethnic cleansing" in Volhyn which has been comittrd by Ukraine ( not only to the Polish but also Jewish and other nations ) is matching the balkan war crimes victims total ( around 100 - 140k )

[-] Siegfried@lemmy.world -1 points 4 days ago

Because poland is poland.. the bar was always low anyway.

[-] StillDepressedMan@reddthat.com -1 points 4 days ago

Having been devastated by nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, Poland has a low threshold for detecting signs of nazism and orcs imperialism.

[-] Siegfried@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Like every other country in the region?

Poland seems to be a champion of those values until they find that something may affect them economically.

Sorry, but i dont buy this victim rethoric.

Road blocking military aid, stupidly overpriced loapard maintenance, mig dismantling... please, DO tell me that any of this is sole russian propaganda because, otherwise, what is wrong with this people?

Ukraine is defending it's own existance... leave this bs for peace time, or would you like to see the russian border splitting poland? Im really tired of this.

Edit: apparently poland negotiated drones for the migs and stopped its jerk move

[-] StillDepressedMan@reddthat.com -1 points 4 days ago
[-] Stitch0815@feddit.org 2 points 4 days ago
[-] StillDepressedMan@reddthat.com -1 points 4 days ago

I put it here mainly for those who are more interested in the historical background, as it’s a good, detailed resource. I’m not forcing anyone to watch it.

[-] Stitch0815@feddit.org 4 points 4 days ago

I don't speak polish(?) or really want to watch a 1h video with subtitles thats why I asked

[-] StillDepressedMan@reddthat.com 1 points 4 days ago

My friend from Ukraine often sends me recordings in Ukrainian, and I use auto-translation for those too.

[-] StillDepressedMan@reddthat.com 1 points 4 days ago

Strange, I checked by turning on auto-translated English subtitles, and they looked completely fine.

[-] StillDepressedMan@reddthat.com -3 points 4 days ago

It Is Not for Revenge, but for Remembrance that the Victims Cry Out

[-] StillDepressedMan@reddthat.com 0 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1B6lgjLJPLo&cc_load_policy=1&cc_lang_pref=en

Please enable subtitles and select English under “Auto-translate.”

[-] StillDepressedMan@reddthat.com 0 points 4 days ago
[-] StillDepressedMan@reddthat.com -2 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)
this post was submitted on 16 Jul 2026
12 points (65.8% liked)

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