Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Heorhiy Tykhyy, expressed the foreign policy agency's stance on the comments made by the President of Poland regarding the threats posed by the return of Ukrainian soldiers from the front lines.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Polish President Andrzej Duda mentioned his fears of a return to the 1990s, when among veterans of the Afghan war, crime and violence involving firearms surged in Europe and America. He is concerned that thousands of Ukrainians with mental health issues returning from the war will go abroad, including to Poland, where they might engage in criminal activities.
Overall, his remarks suggest that former soldiers might form armed criminal gangs and travel to affluent Europe to rob and kill. If they are not contained in Ukraine at any cost, even with efforts to aid in economic recovery and "maintaining order and security within the country."
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine responded promptly.
“We are sincerely grateful to Poland for the extensive assistance provided to Ukraine, as well as to President Andrzej Duda personally for his consistent advocacy for Ukraine's interests and calls for partners to increase support for our state,” the spokesperson stated. “At the same time, we disagree with the portrayal of Ukrainian soldiers, who are risking their lives today to defend Europe from the Russian invasion, as a potential threat to European security,” as reported on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
Heorhiy Tykhyy reminded that since 2014, when hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians had already gone through the front lines, there has been no significant increase in crime or threats to Poland or Europe. Moreover, from the very first years of Russian aggression, Ukraine has prioritized the adaptation, socialization, and integration of soldiers and relies on further support from partners in this crucial matter.
“Ukrainian soldiers and veterans are not a threat but a security factor for Ukraine, Poland, and all of Europe. They are the guarantee of a free and stable European future. We are convinced that the brave Ukrainian men and women who have taken a stand to defend their country and the entire world from Russian aggressors deserve the highest respect,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs asserts.
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