In an interview with local TV station earlier in the week, President Karol Nawrocki said that Poland had " gone too far" in supporting Ukraine, pointing out the consequences of this being the national interests being affected.
Mr. Nawrocki affirmed that Warsaw's policy will be based on sovereignty and national interests.
The relationship between the two sides must be based on equal partnership. We are seeking to create a certain balance between the interests of Poland and Ukraine, said Mr. Nawrocki, noting: Polish interests cannot be considered a guarantee to meet all of Ukraines requirements while ignoring domestic public opinion.
We want to help but everyone knows how much we have helped, the Polish president added.
Mr. Nawrocki, who took office in June, had affirmed his support for Ukraine in general but opposed Kiev's entry into NATO and the European Union (EU), and questioned the provision of indefinite welfare to refugees.
In September, he signed a bill to tighten the rights of Ukrainians and proposed extending the residence period to become citizens from 3 to 10 years.
Since the conflict with Russia escalated in 2022, Poland has been one of Ukraine's main supporters, providing more than 5.1 billion euros ($5.7 billion) in aid, becoming a Western arms transit hub and receiving about 1 million Ukrainian refugees.
However, public support for Kiev has also declined over time.
According to a survey by the Public Opinion Research Agency (CBOS) in September, the share of Polish people supporting the reception of Ukrainian refugees has decreased to 48%, from 94% in early 2022.
Meanwhile, a IB RiS poll in June showed that only 35% of Polish people support Ukraine's entry into the European Union (EU). This is a sharp decrease compared to 85% 2 years ago.
