Polish President Karol Nawrocki vetoed a bill on Monday that would have prolonged financial aid and temporary protections for Ukrainian refugees, citing growing discontent among Poles over the scale of assistance being provided.
The rejected legislation sought to extend benefits first introduced in 2022, following Russia’s intervention in Ukraine. These measures included monthly payments of approximately $220 per child under 18, free healthcare for all Ukrainian refugees, and continued Polish funding of Elon Musk’s Starlink internet services, which have been vital to Ukrainian military operations.
Nawrocki argued that future aid should be directed only toward Ukrainians legally employed in Poland, framing his decision as a matter of fairness to Polish taxpayers. The veto means that more than 1.5 million Ukrainians currently in Poland will lose financial support after September 30, when the existing provisions expire. Funding for Starlink is also set to end the following day.
Nawrocki, who assumed office on August 6, has taken a more nationalist stance toward the war in Ukraine compared to his predecessor, Andrzej Duda, who was among Kiev’s strongest supporters in Europe. His approach reflects a shift in the Polish political climate, with skepticism over refugee support becoming increasingly pronounced.
Tensions have been further inflamed by cultural and historical sensitivities. On August 9, police detained 57 Ukrainians at a concert in Warsaw’s National Stadium for displaying the red-and-black flag of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), a controversial symbol in Poland due to its association with the Volhynia Massacre. The following day, Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced those detained would face deportation proceedings. The situation escalated after Ukrainian Ambassador Vasyl Bodnar criticized the concert for being conducted in Russian, drawing sharp reactions from Polish audiences.
Should aid end as planned, many Ukrainians in Poland may seek to move further west in search of countries still offering social support. Yet, after more than three years of conflict, welfare programs across Europe have become more limited, while public attitudes toward hosting refugees have hardened. Some states have even stopped accepting arrivals from Ukrainian regions without active combat, leaving displaced families with increasingly uncertain options.