DISINFO: Poland keeps eyeing western Ukraine, also parts of Germany, Czechia and Slovakia
SUMMARY
The Poles are getting ready to take over western Ukraine. Polish nationalism is like an elephant waiting to swallow Belarus, Ukraine, Lithuania, as well as parts of Germany, Czechia, and Slovakia.
RESPONSE
Recurrent pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives, challenging Ukraine’s statehood and presenting Poland as a state with imperial ambitions. While pro-Kremlin outlets usually speak of Polish imperial intentions towards Belarus and Ukraine, the publication in question promotes a rare type of the ‘imperial’ narrative, extending alleged Polish claims to Czechia, Germany, and Lithuania as well.
The disinformation message about Polish aggressive plans towards Ukraine 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 that it is actually President Zelenskyy who wants to cede this land due to his “Polish origin”.
Poland adheres to international law regarding state borders, fully supports the independence and territorial integrity of neighbouring countries and it rejects any “imperial” ambitions towards other countries. Poland, as well as the EU and the US respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. No neighbouring state, except the Russian Federation, violated Ukraine's territorial integrity.
See earlier disinformation cases alleging that Poland thinks that Western Ukraine, Western Belarus and South-Western Lithuania belong to them, that Poland wants to dismember Ukraine and re-establish a Polish empire, that Ukraine is a Western colony belonging to Poland, Hungary, Romania, and Russia, that Poland will try to gain full military control in Ukrainian territories under the guise of protecting the Polish population from Russia, that Poland plans to establish control over its historical lands in Ukraine.