Poland Expects Up to One Million Refugees in Case of Russian War Against Ukraine. Polish Prime Minister to Visit Ukraine on February 2

Polish officials, however, urge not to panic and assure that Putin is unlikely to start a war because of the upcoming Olympics in China.

Deputy Minister of Interior and Administration Maciej Wąsik believes that if Russia dares to launch a full-scale war against Ukraine, waves of up to one million refugees could be expected on the border with Poland. The official's statement is quoted by Polskie Radio.

Maciej Wąsik
Deputy Minister of Interior and Administration of Poland

If war breaks out in Ukraine, we must take into account the influx of genuine refugees. People who are fleeing fire, people running from death, running from the atrocities of war. Poland must be ready for a wave of refugees of even one million people.

He added that Poland must be prepared for the "worst-case scenario". "There are several scenarios. More positive or less radical scenarios may materialize, but we must be ready for the black scenario, and for some time the Ministry of Interior has been taking measures so that we are ready for the arrival of this wave of even one million people, who in this most radical case could appear on our eastern border," he said.

Maciej Wąsik added that the preparations concern crossing points, medical care, accommodation and food.

Maciej Wąsik
Deputy Minister of Interior and Administration of Poland

Under the Geneva Convention, these people will be under Poland's protection, and we will not distance ourselves from this. Where there are refugees, we must help them; that is international law, but also the rules of coexistence of civilized people, the principles of European and Christian culture. We will not walk away from this and we will not defend ourselves against it.

He also called not to succumb to hysteria and panic. "We still have the Olympics ahead. It seems that Putin's relations with China are so important that he will not take any decisive steps until the Olympics end, because this could turn against him on the Chinese side," he assessed.

Polish National Security Council Meeting

On Friday, January 28, a meeting of the National Security Council of Poland was held in Warsaw, at which the current situation related to the threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine was discussed.

At the start of the Security Council meeting, Polish President Andrzej Duda stated that there is no direct military threat to Poland. He added that a situation like today's had not existed since 1989.

After the meeting, the Polish president stated that political forces are united on the Ukraine issue.

Polish Prime Minister's Visit to Ukraine

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki will meet with the president and prime minister of Ukraine in Kyiv on Tuesday, February 1. 

Mateusz Morawiecki
Prime Minister of Poland

Poland supports Ukraine in its efforts to prevent aggression from Russia. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki will meet with the president and prime minister of Ukraine in Kyiv on Tuesday. We will do everything possible to keep peace in Europe.

Last week, face-to-face talks between the presidents of Poland and Ukraine, Andrzej Duda and Volodymyr Zelensky, took place at the Presidential Palace's Wisła residence in Poland. The topic of the presidents' consultations was the security situation in the region.

German and French Foreign Ministers Will Also Visit Ukraine

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian stated on Twitter that he will visit Ukraine together with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock on February 7-8.

I assured Dmytro Kuleba today of our full support and solidarity with Ukraine. Our mobilization continues, in particular in the Normandy Format, to de-escalate tensions. I will travel to Ukraine on February 7 and 8 with Annalena Baerbock.