Polish hospitality towards Ukrainian refugees falls to record-low levels, survey warns

Support within Poland for accepting refugees from war-torn Ukraine has fallen to its lowest level since Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea more than a decade ago.

A newly released poll shows that 48% of Poles now support accepting Ukrainian refugees from conflict-affected areas, while 46% are opposed, according to a report by TVP World.

"These are the worst results in the history of our measurements," the Centre for Public Opinion Research (CBOS) said, referring to the survey conducted in December on public attitudes toward Ukrainian refugees.

The report highlights a stark contrast with the early phase of the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in 2022, when public backing for accepting refugees reached 94% and remained high until the middle of 2023.

Opposition was strongest among residents of smaller towns and rural communities. Nearly six in ten respondents living in the countryside said they opposed accepting refugees, compared with just over a quarter of respondents in Poland’s largest cities.

Resistance was also notably higher among people with lower levels of education and lower household incomes.

As the article points out, political affiliation emerged as another key factor shaping attitudes. Acceptance of Ukrainian refugees was highest among voters of left-wing parties and supporters of the Civic Coalition (KO), the largest party in Poland’s ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

In contrast, opposition was most pronounced among voters of right-wing parties, including the main opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, the far-right Confederation, and the radical Confederation of the Polish Crown.

Shifting attitudes towards conflict

Beyond views on refugee policy, the survey suggests a broader shift in Polish attitudes toward the war itself. A majority of respondents, 54%, said they now support ending the conflict even if Ukraine is forced to relinquish part of its territory.

At the same time, support for continuing the war without making any concessions to Russia increased to 33% in December, up from 28% in September.

The poll, which surveyed approximately 1,000 people, also revealed growing pessimism about the war’s outcome. Nearly two-thirds of respondents believe Ukraine will ultimately have to cede part of its territory, while 8% now think Russia could seize control of the entire country — a view that until recently was held by only a small minority.

CBOS linked this shift in opinion to Donald Trump’s victory in last year’s US presidential election and his stated intention to push for a swift end to the war.

“It is worth emphasizing that just over a year ago, voices supporting uncompromising resistance still dominated in Polish society. Although their share gradually declined, a fundamental change was brought only by Donald Trump’s victory in the elections in the United States, as he announced limits on support for Ukraine’s defence and a determined push to end the conflict,” the center commented on their findings. 

By Nazrin Sadigova