Not to submit, but to negotiate: 90% of Ukrainians chose a constructive approach in disputes with Poland

Despite a deterioration of Polish-Ukrainian relations in June 2026, an overwhelming majority of Ukrainians do not support the mutual imposition of historical views. According to a new survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, 90% of citizens advocate for a constructive resolution of disputes with Poland.

The study was conducted from 17 to 23 June 2026 — already during the diplomatic crisis between the countries. Some respondents answered before the decision of the President of Poland Karol Nawrocki to strip the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle, and some after it.

• Most respondents — 57% — supported a pragmatic position: each state can have its own view of history and its own heroes, without interfering in the politics of memory of a neighboring country.
• Another 33% believe that disputed issues should be resolved by joint commissions of historians, not by politicians, through mutual compromises and professional dialogue.
• Confrontational scenarios were supported by only 5% of respondents. Only 1% believe that Ukraine should meet all of Poland’s demands and accept the Polish interpretation of the shared history. Another 4% expect that Poland should fully agree with the Ukrainian position.

The survey was conducted by telephone interviews among 1005 adult citizens residing in territory controlled by the Ukrainian government.

The results show that even against the backdrop of political demarches Ukrainians mostly favor not escalation but equal relations. Historical disputes, in the view of the majority, should not be turned into a means of pressure, political blackmail, or an instrument for quarrelling between two neighboring peoples during the war with the Russian aggressor.

Earlier we wrote:

• War of honors: Budanov refused an award after Poland stripped Zelensky of the order
• Despite the scandal over Bandera Street: funds were raised in Poland for Vinnytsia’s buses
• Buses didn’t arrive because of Bandera: Vinnytsia refused aid from Poland after the political scandal
• Poland cancels a separate law on assistance to Ukrainian refugees
• When there’s no power — neighbors help: how Poles warm Kyiv`