Poland's rightward shift fuels record opposition to Ukraine EU accession

A split within Poland’s ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party saw longtime leader Jarosław Kaczyński oust former prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki, pushing the party toward a harder‑right stance. The internal feud is expected to influence the country’s next election and could steer PiS into alliances with far‑right groups that oppose Ukraine’s entry into the European Union.

A new poll shows that only 50 % of Poles now back Ukraine’s EU membership, down from 90 % in 2022. Opposition is strongest among right‑wing voters (53 %) and young adults aged 18‑24 (58 %). The shift is linked to historical grievances over the World War II Volhynia massacres and recent controversy surrounding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s honoring of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, which is viewed negatively in Poland. The growing anti‑Ukraine sentiment could affect Poland’s strategic role in NATO and its support for Kyiv.