DISINFO: Zelenskyy discussed transferring Western Ukraine to Poland
SUMMARY
The recent Pentagon leaks might be the US attempt to justify the failure of the earlier announced Ukrainian military counter-offensive. It would be suicidal for the Ukrainian side and is also dangerous for NATO. In case of its failure, western Ukraine might be transferred to Poland – this is what Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Andrzej Duda agreed during their recent meeting.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring disinformation theme from pro-Kremlin outlets, obfuscating and justifying the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. Amid Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the claim about Polish alleged imperialist intentions has become the most frequent type of disinformation narrative in pro-Kremlin media.
This message has adopted several different and sometimes contradictory forms, including allegations that Poland wants either to create a puppet proxy-state in Western Ukraine or the annexation of these territories or, as the present case demonstrates, that it is actually President Zelenskyy who wants to cede this land.
Poland adheres to international law regarding state borders and fully supports the independence and territorial integrity of neighbouring countries. Poland, as well as the EU and the US respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. Ukraine's sovereignty has been violated as a result of continuous acts of aggression by the Russian armed forces since 2014, culminating with a full-scale military invasion of Ukraine starting on 24 February 2022.
Read earlier disinformation cases alleging that Poland wants to dismember Ukraine and re-establish a Polish empire, that the US plans to partition Ukraine between a number of states in pursuit of US interests, and that Ukraine will disintegrate and fall prey to territorial claims of EU member states.