Jan Krzysztof Bielecki, one of Poland’s first post-communist PMs and a respected economist, told TVP World the failure of EU states to agree a fresh sanctions package on Russia reflected waning support across Europe. “We [have] reached the peak, I think. And when you reach the summit of the mountain, then unfortunately, it could be possible that you will be going down sooner or later,” he said. Bielecki said moral backing for Ukraine remains strong, but governments are becoming less willing to bear the potential economic costs of sanctions, making reference to EU states’ reported demands for “carve-outs” from the next set of sanctions. Several member states have sought exemptions to protect domestic industries, and EU ambassadors are expected to make another attempt to approve the measures on July 22. ‘Get the neighbor on your side’ The former Polish PM also criticized Kyiv’s handling of historical tensions with Warsaw, which have escalated in recent months due to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s decision to name a military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, or UPA. The World War II-era group was responsible for the deaths of some 100,000 ethnic Poles in present-day western Ukraine. Bielecki rejected suggestions that Ukraine could afford to exclude Poland from new defense initiatives, calling Warsaw a vital hub, partner and voice in the EU. “You have to get the neighbor on your side,” he said, drawing on his personal experience Poland’s experience of rebuilding relations with Germany after communism. “You may not like it, but it’s better to get on with him.”
