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.

Disproof

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.

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publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 299
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 30/06/2022
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Poland, Ukraine, Russia
  • Keywords: Ukrainian disintegration, Anti-Russian, War in Ukraine, Imperialism/colonialism, Ukrainian statehood
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Disinfo: Demonstrators in Brussels condemn NATO

Demonstrators in a massive protest against high living costs in the heart of the EU yelled “Stop NATO!”. Dozens of thousands took part in the protest, and many linked the crisis with the West's policies on Russia. Besides expressing their anger for the rise of living costs in Belgium, many condemned the NATO alliance led by the US and its participation in the conflict of Ukraine.

Jun 29, 2022
Disproof

The claim is false.

The demonstration that took place in Brussels on 20 June 2022 was organised by labour unions to call the Belgian government to take action to tackle inflation and rise wages, and although it can’t be ruled out that some anti-NATO protesters could have taken part on it, the protest was ostensibly unrelated to the conflict in Ukraine.

Disinfo: NATO uses Ukraine to assert itself and its imperial ambitions

NATO uses Ukraine to assert itself, its imperial ambitions and its hegemony. The West is not interest in the well-being of Ukraine and Ukrainian people, it only uses Ukraine to expand its selfish interests.

Jun 29, 2022
Disproof

This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets claiming that the West is disrupting peace efforts in Ukraine and that its real aim is to spread its influence in the region to the detriment of Russian interests.

In reality, Western leaders have been repeatedly calling for talks and a peaceful solution to stop Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, but Moscow has been ignoring these efforts. The West is not nurturing any imperial ambitions in Ukraine, nor is it striving to spread its hegemony in the region. The fact that Western nations, including NATO member states, are supplying Ukraine with arms means that they are eager to help Kyiv restore its territorial integrity. Any further advancement of Ukrainian troops into internationally recognised Russian territory is out of the question.

Disinfo: West prolongs war in Ukraine by providing it with arms and political support

The West continues to whip up tension, artificially prolonging the special military operation by providing not only military aid to Kyiv but also, of course, political support. This is the decision of the EU summit which took place on 23 and 24 of June on granting Ukraine candidate status for its membership in the European Union.

Jun 29, 2022
Disproof

This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets accusing the West of encouraging militaristic moods in Ukraine. This claim was made in the context of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.

In reality, the West is supplying Kyiv with weapons to help it repel the Russian aggression. Ukraine is using Western arms with the sole aim of restoring its territorial integrity within the internationally recognised borders including the peninsula of Crimea and the occupied areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk Regions. Ukraine has no plans to move further into Russia and occupy any Russian territory.