DISINFO: Poland wants to create a puppet proxy-state in Western Ukraine
SUMMARY
In the emerging "critical" circumstances, Warsaw wants to go beyond the previously planned deployment of the Polish "peacekeepers" in Western Ukraine. Warsaw considers the creation of a Polish-controlled proxy state in the eastern borderlands, which will stay “under protection" of the Polish armed forces. It is possible that Warsaw also considers the creation of a “buffer zone” in central regions of Ukraine in order to avoid the undesirable direct clash with Russia.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin narrative presenting Poland as a state with imperial ambitions.
This is part of a pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about denying Ukraine's statehood and the disintegration of Ukraine. The claim is consistent with the recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative painting the post-2014 Ukrainian leadership as a Nazi/Fascist "junta," which allegedly came to power following a violent coup d'etat.
Poland was the first country to recognise Ukraine’s independence in 1991. Poland, as well as the EU and the US, respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. Poland rejects any “imperial” ambitions toward other countries. Read more about the Eastern policy of Poland here.
Poland is supporting Ukrainian refugees coming to Poland. It is allowing millions of Ukrainians fleeing the war access to the labour market and to health and social benefits. Moreover, Poland is also actively supporting Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion.
On 12 March 2022, the Polish parliament passed an act on assistance for Ukrainian nationals in connection with Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The special purpose act, in addition to regulating a number of issues related to the refugee’s stay in Poland, allows for the favourable tax treatment of humanitarian aid expenditures incurred by corporations. In return, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy intends to submit a draft bill to the Verkhovna Rada on the status and assistance to Polish citizens in Ukraine, which is similar to the one, which has recently been endorsed by the Sejm of Poland in relation to Ukrainians.
The pro-Kremlin outlet's claim that Ukraine would have already ceded the state sovereignty to Poland is manipulation and misrepresentation of these events.
See the EU's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine here along with EU vs Disinfo's Guide to Deciphering Pro-Kremlin disinformation around Putin's War.
See earlier disinformation cases alleging that Poland is actively assimilating the Ukrainian territory, that Poland intends to impose control over western Ukraine with the blessing of Washington, or that Ukraine is a Western colony belonging to Poland, Hungary, Romania, and Russia.