UWC President Paul Grod concludes high‑level visit to Poland and Ukraine focused on strengthening Polish‑Ukrainian relations

During a multi-day visit to Poland and Ukraine, Ukrainian World Congress President Paul Grod engaged in a series of high-level meetings that underscored the growing depth, resilience, and strategic importance of Polish-Ukrainian relations. 

At a time when Ukraine continues to defend itself against Russia’s full-scale invasion, Grod’s discussions with senior Polish officials focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation, safeguarding Ukrainians living in Poland, and reinforcing collective efforts to counter Russian disinformation while ensuring that Ukraine’s voice remains central in any future peace process.

Grod’s visit included meetings in Warsaw, where he held substantive dialogue with Polish Minister of Justice and Prosecutor General Waldemar Żurek. Their conversation centered on the urgent realities facing more than one million Ukrainians in Poland, including women and children whose husbands and fathers are fighting on the front lines. 

Grod emphasized the need for stronger legal protection, more predictable legalization pathways, and robust action against hate crimes, many of which are amplified by ongoing Russian information operations designed to sow distrust between Poles and Ukrainians.

A key area of discussion was the attempted peace process surrounding Russia’s continued aggression. Grod underlined the critical role Poland must play in ensuring that any peace negotiations respect Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the will of the Ukrainian people. Minister Żurek reaffirmed Poland’s readiness to be constructively involved in future negotiations and emphasized that peace cannot come at the expense of justice or Ukraine’s democratic choice.

The minister also described new measures to confront disinformation and hate-motivated incidents, including the establishment of a special investigative unit inside the Prosecutor General’s Office. These efforts reflect a growing recognition across Poland that Russian propaganda is not merely a communications challenge, but a national security threat requiring coordinated governmental action.

Beyond the Ministry of Justice, Grod’s visit included a wide range of meetings with senior government leaders. At the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland, he met with Secretary of State Wojciech Kolarski and other officials to discuss long-term strategic cooperation, community support structures, addressing historical reconciliation and the broader geopolitical consequences of any future peace framework involving Ukraine.

At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Grod held key discussions with Henryka Moscicka-Dendys Undersecretary of State. Their talks focused on the dual challenge of supporting Ukraine diplomatically in future peace negotiations while aggressively countering Russian information warfare targeting Europe. They discussed ways to strengthen coordinated messaging, increase resilience among European societies, and protect democratic discourse from foreign interference. The officials reaffirmed that Poland would continue to advocate for a peace process that is fair, just, and firmly grounded in international law.

Grod also met with leaders of the Polish Parliament (Sejm) in Lviv, including Deputy Marshal Monika Velikhovska, Kazimierz Holoyukh, Polina Matysiak, and Marek Żonsa. Parliamentary leaders emphasized broad, cross-party support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and expressed concern over the growing wave of Russian-driven narratives within public discourse. They echoed Grod’s call for stronger European unity, especially as diplomatic efforts surrounding a potential peace process intensify.

Throughout these meetings, Grod worked closely with Myroslav Skirka, Head of the Association of Ukrainians in Poland, and H.E. Vasyl Bodnar, Ambassador of Ukraine to Poland. Their participation ensured that the priorities of the Ukrainian community, now deeply integrated into Polish society, were represented in every discussion.

At every stage of his visit, Grod emphasized that Poland and Ukraine share not only a border but a common destiny. He stressed that Russia’s war is not only fought with missiles and tanks, but with lies, manipulation, and attempts to distort the peace process to Ukraine’s detriment. The meetings made clear that both nations recognize the importance of strategic unity in confronting these threats.

As the visit concluded, President Paul Grod underscored that the Ukrainian World Congress will continue working hand-in-hand with Polish partners to strengthen community support, defend against disinformation, and ensure that any future peace initiative is grounded in justice, accountability, and the protection of Ukraine’s sovereignty.