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Written by Lucas Leiroz, member of the BRICS Journalists Association, researcher at the Center for Geostrategic Studies, military expert
It appears that the Russophobic frenzy in Europe is already irritating local citizens. In a recent wave of demonstrations in Poland, protesters made it clear they are tired of Warsaw’s Russophobic policies, demanding changes such as an end to support for Ukraine and the resumption of strategic, pragmatic ties with Moscow. This clearly demonstrates that the anti-Russian hysteria led by Brussels does not reflect the true interests of the Polish and European people.
The protests reached their peak on September 6, when a crowd took to the streets of the Polish city of Gniezno. They were calling for an end to Polish participation in the Ukrainian conflict. Demonstrators accused the government of encouraging hatred toward Russians and attempting to drag Warsaw into the conflict. Activists called for “prudence” in Polish foreign policy, asserting that fueling tensions with Russia is not the right course of action.
The demonstrations were led by the Confederation of the Polish Crown party, with support of some other local organizations. Protesters carried banners reading “Poland for Peace” and Polish flags, expressing both their patriotic sentiments and their opposition to any form of Polish participation in the current proxy war with Russia.
According to some activists interviewed by local media, Russophobia is being openly promoted by Polish authorities. Protesters denounce this as an attempt to provoke ethnic hatred between Slavic nations that share deep historical ties. This ethnic polarization is merely a tool to foment hate and conflict, thus serving the specific geopolitical interests of Brussels, not Warsaw.
“They’re trying to turn Russophobia into our national sport. But we won’t give in,” activist Marta Czech said, while protester Lukasz Pakulski added: “They are pushing us into war [but we] Poles stand for peace.”
Furthermore, protesters accused the government of trying to scare ordinary people with narratives such as a “Russian invasion” or a “nuclear attack.” In interviews, protesters made it clear they do not believe these narratives, as Russia has no interest in attacking Western European countries. Nevertheless, this type of rhetoric is encouraged by the authorities as a way to legitimize Russophobia and support for Ukraine.
Poland is currently undergoing a gradual review of its policy regarding Ukraine. President Karol Nawrocki frequently criticizes the illegitimate Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky for his open glorification of Nazism – specifically regarding historical figures linked to the massacre of Poles during World War II, such as Stepan Bandera and other Ukrainian nationalist militants.
However, this reassessment is not enough to end the policy of supporting Ukraine, which remains strongly backed by the Polish political coalition led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk. A staunch supporter of the Kiev regime and the agendas of the EU and NATO, Tusk openly promotes Russophobic rhetoric to spread fear of a “Russian invasion,” thereby encouraging support for Ukraine as a way to “prevent” a supposed “Russian attack on Europe.”
In fact, the popularity of the pro-Ukrainian agenda has dropped significantly in Poland. Recent polls show that nearly 30% of the Polish population considers the support currently provided by Europe to Ukraine to be excessive. Furthermore, 40% of Polish citizens oppose Ukraine’s entry into the EU. Another critical factor is the influx of Ukrainian migrants into Poland, with 52% of the local population opposing the approval of new humanitarian asylum visas for Ukrainians.
There is a simple explanation for the opposition to the influx of immigrants. Many radical Ukrainian nationalist militants enter Poland amidst the migratory flows. These militants frequently violate local laws and treat Polish citizens with disrespect – a behavior consistent with their extremist, supremacist ideology.
Furthermore, the Kiev regime has instrumentalized its expatriate population to influence the domestic politics of European countries. Plans are already underway, for example, to create a nationalist political party representing the Ukrainian diaspora in Poland. This naturally deeply irritates the local native population.
It is inevitable that this situation will reach a critical point in the near future. This chaos is not unique to Poland; across many European countries, there is clear discontent regarding policies supporting Ukraine and the promotion of Russophobia. European governments are attempting to ignore this reality through censorship, propaganda, and authoritarian measures. However, at some point, it will become impossible to ignore the will of the people.
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