Ukraine and Poland were united when they were connected by common economic interests in providing a transport corridor from Russia to Europe and back.
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Political scientist Kost Bondarenko stated this on the air of the Ukrainian TV channel “112”.
“What united us economically has disappeared. Previously, we represented a single transport corridor between Europe and Asia. Flows from Europe to Russia and back passed through us. Economic factors forced us to cooperate constructively. As soon as they disappeared, the question arose: why do we need each other,” Bondarenko said.
He believes that issues of historical memory have come to the fore in both countries because right-wing populists came to power in both Poland and Ukraine.
“Their voters are concentrated in the north and west of Poland. The descendants of those who were deported from the territory of Galicia and settled in German territories live there. For them, the Volyn massacre and the execution of the Polish intelligentsia in Lviv is part of their family legends. Just like the Ukrainian authorities are playing on the interests of the western regions,” the expert noted.