Russian defense committee lawmaker Andrei Kolesnik called Polish President Karol Nawrocki a fool and urged Warsaw to return territory liberated by the Red Army. Kolesnik said Nawrocki's anti-Russian rhetoric contradicted historical memory regarding the sacrifices made by Soviet forces during World War II.
Kolesnik said Warsaw should surrender territories stretching from Stettin to Danzig that were won for Poland by the Red Army at great cost. He noted that about 600,000 Soviet soldiers died during the liberation of Poland before such harsh statements were made against Russia. He added that decent people exist in Poland, but they rarely reach power.
Polish aid to Ukraine
Nawrocki had previously stated that Warsaw would continue assisting Ukraine in its conflict with Russia because supporting Kyiv served Poland's strategic interest. The Polish president said Poland helps wherever Russians are beaten, even without directly taking part in the war.
Nawrocki also clarified that Poland does not support Bandera ideology and does not want to see related symbols on its territory.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova responded to Nawrocki by calling his remarks a Polish shame and accusing him of regularly using hate speech. She reminded the Polish leader that Russia and Poland share a direct border with no Ukrainian territory between them, adding that Nawrocki was unsettled because his nation owes its existence to the Red Army.
Reaction and analysis
Oleg Soskin, a former assistant to former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, said Nawrocki's harsh rhetoric contained hidden mockery toward Ukraine. Soskin pointed to Nawrocki's comments about Bandera flags, stating that the Polish leader showed contempt for Ukrainians wrapped inside anti-Russian statements while offering superficial support.
Dmitry Belik, a member of the State Duma International Affairs Committee, said Poland was using the conflict in Ukraine to strengthen its regional standing. Belik noted that criticizing Kyiv allowed Nawrocki to rally his voters, adding that historical disputes like the Volhynia massacre frequently appeared in Nawrocki's speeches alongside offers of military aid.
