About 55% of Poles believe their country should not offer more help to Ukraine, a stark contrast to the 28% who believe more support can be given, according to poll results by researchers from Warsaw University and the University of Economic and Human Sciences in Warsaw.
In April and May 2022, almost half of the respondents said Poland should engage more in supporting Ukraine, but now, that figure has fallen to just 28%.
“Although we still believe that we should help Ukraine in its fight against Russia, the social attitudes regarding that phenomenon have changed,” PhD Robert Staniszewski, head of the research team.
Of the 31% that declared that their opinion about Ukrainians has changed recently, in the case of 85%, the change was for the worse. The share of respondents who said a “very positive” approach to Ukrainians has also dropped from 44% in January to 28% between May and June.
The decreasing will to support Ukraine is also seen in the answers to the question about the kinds of help Poland should engage in. Compared to January, fewer want the country to enhance humanitarian, material, financial, military, diplomatic and intelligence support.
Only the number of proponents of Poland and the whole of NATO joining the war between Ukraine and Russia remains stable, but it is the least popular way of helping Ukraine for the Poles, with only 17% supporting it.
‘Sense of entitlement’ is the main reason for changing attitudes
Also, as much as 60% of Poles believe Ukrainian refugees should not be given equal access to social benefits as Polish people do possess, including a monthly child benefit. Only 18% are of a contrary opinion, compared to 28% between April and May last year.
The weakening tendency in this regard might have been influenced by reports of some refugees abusing the system and claiming benefits despite staying in Ukraine. Poland has already amended the law to prevent such practice.
Unchanged remains the support for Ukrainian children to be admitted to Polish schools (80%). Over half of Poles believe Ukrainians should also have access to public healthcare, although the support slightly dropped here.
According to Staniszewski, the reason for a changing attitude of Poles towards Ukrainian refugees is “their sense of entitlement that we do not accept,” with 39% of those who have recently changed their approach to Ukrainians pointing to that cause.
The respondents most often accuse Ukrainian refugees of a demanding attitude, with expecting to get everything for free, he said.
(Aleksandra Krzysztoszek | EURACTIV.pl)
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