Russian President Vladimir Putin recently raised eyebrows. He said western Poland was a “gift from Stalin.” During a gathering with permanent members of the Security Council, Putin brought up reports of potential discussions about forming a union between Poland, Lithuania, and Ukraine. He viewed this as a possible “invasion risk” for Western Ukraine.
From his point of view, this situation mirrored past events. “Consider what happened to Poland due to aggressive policies in the past,” Putin said. In 1939, it faced a tragedy. Its Western allies abandoned Poland, leaving it defenseless against the German war machine. Its independence and sovereignty were nearly lost.
However, Putin insists that the USSR played a pivotal role in its restoration. He credits the Soviet Union and Stalin for Poland’s recovery, particularly in the West. Notably, he calls these western territories a ‘gift’ to the Polish.
The Russian State Duma’s speaker previously warned Poland. It was for its alleged “betrayal of historical memory” regarding the USSR’s role in WWII. But Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki brushed his comments aside. He labeled them as “typical propaganda.”
Putin isn’t alone in his sentiments toward Poland. Belarus’ self-proclaimed President, Alexander Lukashenko, shares his viewpoint. They both maintain that Poland represents a threat to Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
The Kremlin and self-proclaimed President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, have repeatedly claimed that Poland threatens Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
