Poland Announces End to Financial Aid for Ukrainian Refugees

The reaction in Poland — particularly to the attempt by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, in front of the UN General Assembly on Sept. 22, to paint Poland’s defense of its farmers as effectively working on the side of the Russians — seems unrelenting. President Andrzej Duda had described Poland’s situation with Kiev: “Everyone who has ever participated in saving a drowning person knows that a drowning man is extremely dangerous,” that from “personal fear, the influence of adrenaline,” he can “simply drown the rescuer.” Poland then announced that there would be no new military aid from them. Then, earlier this week (Oct. 2), Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau declared that it “will require titanic efforts” to address the rift between Ukraine and Poland.