Polish President Karol Nawrocki vetoed an amendment to the law on aid to Ukrainian citizens.
“We remain open to providing assistance to citizens of Ukraine; this remains unchanged. The strategic goal of the Polish state in the face of Russia’s attack on Ukraine also remains unchanged – Poland’s interest is to militarily support Ukraine in this conflict. The Russian Federation is the perpetrator and Ukraine is the victim of this war. But after 3.5 years, our law must be corrected. The law on aid to citizens of Ukraine does not make the correction, which was the subject of public discussion, regarding the fact that 800+ aid should be given to Ukrainians who perform compulsory work,” said Nawrocki, quoted by his press service.
DPA writes that in Poland, Ukrainian citizens with protection status are entitled to the equivalent of 180 euros in monthly child allowance, for the second and each subsequent child there is also childcare assistance of 117 euros per month for the first two years. Refugees also have free access to the education and health care system, putting them on an equal footing with Polish families.
The bill, which was approved by the votes of Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s centre-left coalition, would have extended refugees’ receipt of these social benefits until March 2026.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk criticised the veto, but his government does not have the two-thirds majority in parliament needed to override the move.
The 800 plus is money for children. Children who are not responsible whether their mother is working, has lost her job or is caring for a sick grandmother or a newborn baby….
We cannot punish people for losing their jobs, especially innocent children. This is the ABC of human dignity,” Labour Minister Agnieszka Dzemianowicz-Bak wrote on social network X.
Poland is a key supporter of Ukraine and a major transit route for Western aid.