Biznes Fakty
Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz: this is what President Karol Nawrocki's veto is about
„Poland's involvement in Starlinka represents some of the most beneficial expenditures ever made to support Ukraine,” stated Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Radosław Sikorski. Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and National Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz emphasized that President Karol Nawrocki's veto of the law providing assistance to Ukrainian citizens is „detrimental to Poland's security.”
During a conference on Wednesday following the inaugural meeting of the Cabinet Council since Karol Nawrocki assumed office, the head of Polish diplomacy and deputy prime minister was questioned about the government’s reaction to accusations from Zbigniew Bogucki, head of the President’s Chancellery, that the administration was leveraging „Russian propaganda” concerning Starlinks, as well as whether Ukraine had voiced any concerns regarding the president’s veto of the assistance law for Ukrainian citizens.
Sikorski: some of the best funds utilized for supporting Ukraine
The Foreign Minister recalled the outrage among NATO allies and in Ukraine triggered by Elon Musk’s statement that „if he were to disable the Starlinks, the Ukrainian front would collapse.” He added that several of the terminals were indeed disabled during the Ukrainian counteroffensive in 2023.
– It is strategically vital for Poland to exercise influence, firstly, over Ukraine’s defense, and secondly, on the decisions made during and after this conflict – stated Sikorski.
He remarked that Poland’s investment in Starlinka constitutes „some of the most effective spending on aiding Ukraine and enhancing Poland’s leverage and driving force.”
– This is why I find it hard to believe that anyone would take actions that would complicate this highly effective program – said the deputy prime minister, alluding to the presidential veto.
Deputy Prime Minister: This is the essence of the veto
The same inquiries were addressed by Deputy Prime Minister and National Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.
He emphasized that the veto – as noted by Prime Minister Donald Tusk earlier – does not pertain to the 800 plus benefit.
– It was intended to serve as a distraction – remarked the National Defense Minister and stressed that the veto primarily concerns Poland’s security.
„The longer we can keep Russian forces away from the Polish border, the longer the Ukrainian military can „consume” the Russian military forces daily, mitigating the threat to Poland. This veto is fundamentally about that and poses a risk to Poland’s security,” Kosiniak-Kamysz stated.
The Deputy Prime Minister noted that the further the Russian troops are from the Polish border, the more it aligns with Poland’s national interest to support the Ukrainians who „maintain” that distance.
The National Defense Minister expressed that following the onset of the war in Ukraine, a consensus appeared to exist among those steering Polish policy. „We backed the Homeland Defense Act, we endorsed measures to support Ukraine, and now that stance has shifted,” he remarked.
Kosiniak-Kamysz indicated that Polish entrepreneurs and farmers, among others, have voiced their concerns regarding the president’s veto. According to the Deputy Prime Minister, this anxiety arises from the potential loss of workers „whom they have already trained, prepared, who have adapted and who do not disrupt cultural cohesion in Poland.”
The Deputy Prime Minister stressed that the Polish government is committed to preventing illegal migration. Thus, as Kosiniak-Kamysz pointed out, it has implemented „entirely different” border protections with Belarus, stringent asylum laws, and is repatriating individuals who jeopardize the safety of Polish citizens.
– However, those who contribute positively and pay taxes in Poland should genuinely expect us to foster this in a culturally cohesive manner, and the veto obstructs that – concluded the Minister of National Defense.
Presidential veto of the assistance bill for Ukrainians
On Monday, President Karol Nawrocki declared that he had refrained from signing the amendment to the law regarding assistance for Ukrainian citizens. He justified his decision by asserting that the 800+ benefit should be exclusively available to Ukrainians employed in Poland. A presidential proposal on support for Ukrainian citizens has been presented to the Sejm, stipulating, among other things, that access to benefits and healthcare is restricted to those who are employed and contribute in Poland.
Employers in Poland have assessed that the president’s veto of the bill that would automatically extend residence permits for Ukrainians, due to expire on September 30th this year for several hundred thousand individuals, poses a serious risk of disruption in the Polish labor market. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Affairs Krzysztof Gawkowski indicated that the veto also implies the discontinuation of Starlink satellite internet services in Ukraine, which are provided by Poland.
