Polish president vetoes Ukraine assist legislation, threatens Starlink companies for Ukraine

[ad_1] Editor's be aware: This story was up to date to incorporate one other legislation signed by President Karol Nawrocki the identical day and a remark from a diplomatic supply.

Polish President Karol Nawrocki on Aug. 25 vetoed a invoice that will have prolonged monetary assist for Ukrainians fleeing the warfare, a call that officers warn may also lower funding for Ukraine's Starlink web service beginning Oct. 1.

Poland has been supporting Ukraine's web connection for the reason that begin of Russia's full-scale invasion by financing Starlink methods, that are a lifeline for soldiers preventing on the entrance line.

"Presidential vetoes are chopping blindly! Karol Nawrocki turns off the Web in Ukraine along with his determination, as a result of de facto it means his determination on the legislation on help to Ukrainian residents," Polish Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski wrote on X. "That is the tip of the Starlink Web, which Poland supplies to Ukraine, which is waging war . That is additionally the tip of assist for storing Ukrainian administration information in a protected place."

Once a top backer, Poland fades from Ukraine peace talks amid domestic turmoil

As U.S.-led efforts to end Russia’s war against Ukraine were gaining momentum, Poland, once among Kyiv’s most vocal backers, was noticeably absent from high-level talks, sparking debate over its diminished role. The country, which provided an estimated 4.5 billion euros ($5.2 billion) in military aid since 2022 and hosts the critical Rzeszow-Jasionka hub for Western weapons deliveries, has struggled to maintain its early prominence. Analysts say dwindling military stockpiles and shifting domes

<img alt="Article image" loading="lazy" width="800" height="450" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" style="color:transparent;object-fit:cover" sizes="50vw" srcset="/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.kyivindependent.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2F2025%2F08%2FGettyImages-2229912371-1.jpg&w=384&q=100 384w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.kyivindependent.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2F2025%2F08%2FGettyImages-2229912371-1.jpg&w=640&q=100 640w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.kyivindependent.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2F2025%2F08%2FGettyImages-2229912371-1.jpg&w=750&q=100 750w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.kyivindependent.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2F2025%2F08%2FGettyImages-2229912371-1.jpg&w=828&q=100 828w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.kyivindependent.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2F2025%2F08%2FGettyImages-2229912371-1.jpg&w=1080&q=100 1080w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.kyivindependent.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2F2025%2F08%2FGettyImages-2229912371-1.jpg&w=1200&q=100 1200w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.kyivindependent.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2F2025%2F08%2FGettyImages-2229912371-1.jpg&w=1920&q=100 1920w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.kyivindependent.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2F2025%2F08%2FGettyImages-2229912371-1.jpg&w=2048&q=100 2048w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.kyivindependent.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2F2025%2F08%2FGettyImages-2229912371-1.jpg&w=3840&q=100 3840w" src="https://kyivindependent.com/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.kyivindependent.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2F2025%2F08%2FGettyImages-2229912371-1.jpg&w=3840&q=100"/> "I can not think about a greater reward for (Russia's President Vladimir) Putin's troops than chopping off Ukraine from the Web," he added, accusing Nawrocki of "serving to Russia " by blocking assist for Kyiv's communications infrastructure.

The Polish president's determination to veto the invoice "implies that as of Oct. 1, Warsaw will be unable to proceed paying for Ukraine's Starlink subscription," a spokesperson for Poland's Digital Affairs Ministry told TVP public tv on Aug. 25.

"The invoice, which President Nawrocki vetoed, prolonged the interval of help, which means this funding from the Ukraine Help Fund, till the tip of March subsequent 12 months," ministry spokesperson Marek Gieorgica stated. "Due to this fact, there's presently no authorized foundation for funding this from Oct. 1."

In accordance with Polish outlet Onet, Nawrocki stated on Aug. 25 that Poland's strategic pursuits haven't modified, and Russia stays "the best menace to safety."

"Nonetheless, after 3.5 years, the scenario by way of financials and social and political feelings has basically modified. The legislation that was proposed must be corrected at the moment," Nawrocki added throughout a briefing on the Presidential Palace.

Ukraine depends closely on Starlink, the satellite tv for pc web system developed by Elon Musk's SpaceX, to take care of connectivity in front-line areas and assist authorities communications.

Ukraine's Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced on April 3 that Poland had equipped 5,000 extra Starlink terminals for important infrastructure.

For the reason that begin of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine has acquired over 50,000 Starlink terminals, with Poland offering almost 30,000 — the biggest contribution by any single nation, based on Fedorov.

Amongst different measures, Nawrocki introduced the submission of his personal invoice that, amongst different measures, would lengthen the interval required to acquire Polish citizenship from three to 10 years and introduce harsher penalties for unlawful border crossing.

Nawrocki additionally proposed equating the "Bandera image" with Nazi and Communist symbols in Poland's prison code and revising the legislation on the Institute of Nationwide Remembrance to replicate "crimes dedicated by the Ukrainian Rebel Military."

The controversy over historic symbols has lengthy difficult Polish-Ukrainian relations. Whereas many in Poland affiliate Stepan Bandera's legacy with wartime atrocities, in Ukraine, the determine has come to represent resistance and nationwide id, particularly within the battle towards Russia's ongoing invasion.

"As a way to eradicate Russian propaganda and set relations with Ukraine on a mutual respect, I imagine we also needs to embrace on this invoice an unambiguous slogan 'cease Banderism,'" the Polish president declared.

A Ukrainian diplomatic supply instructed the Kyiv Unbiased that whereas Ukraine appreciates Poland’s previous assist, equating Ukrainian symbols with Nazi and Communist ones dangers fueling unfavourable sentiment in Ukrainian society.

"Any politicized selections on allegedly equating Ukrainian symbols with Nazi and Communist ones could provoke stronger unfavourable sentiment in Ukrainian society and would require a response from the Ukrainian facet," the supply stated.

Nawrocki, a right-wing nationalist backed by the opposition Regulation and Justice social gathering, narrowly won Poland's presidential election on June 1 with 50.89% of the vote, defeating liberal rival Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski.

Whereas Poland has a parliamentary system wherein the president's authority is essentially ceremonial, the Polish president remains to be capable of veto laws proposed by the parliament.

Ukraine has upgraded its Neptune missile — here’s what we know

But another recent announcement may make the “Long Neptune” slightly redundant.

<img alt="Article image" loading="lazy" width="800" height="450" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" style="color:transparent;object-fit:cover" sizes="50vw" srcset="/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.kyivindependent.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2F2025%2F08%2FGzLVBwIXQAAF9T1.jpeg&w=384&q=100 384w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.kyivindependent.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2F2025%2F08%2FGzLVBwIXQAAF9T1.jpeg&w=640&q=100 640w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.kyivindependent.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2F2025%2F08%2FGzLVBwIXQAAF9T1.jpeg&w=750&q=100 750w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.kyivindependent.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2F2025%2F08%2FGzLVBwIXQAAF9T1.jpeg&w=828&q=100 828w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.kyivindependent.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2F2025%2F08%2FGzLVBwIXQAAF9T1.jpeg&w=1080&q=100 1080w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.kyivindependent.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2F2025%2F08%2FGzLVBwIXQAAF9T1.jpeg&w=1200&q=100 1200w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.kyivindependent.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2F2025%2F08%2FGzLVBwIXQAAF9T1.jpeg&w=1920&q=100 1920w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.kyivindependent.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2F2025%2F08%2FGzLVBwIXQAAF9T1.jpeg&w=2048&q=100 2048w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.kyivindependent.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2F2025%2F08%2FGzLVBwIXQAAF9T1.jpeg&w=3840&q=100 3840w" src="https://kyivindependent.com/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.kyivindependent.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2F2025%2F08%2FGzLVBwIXQAAF9T1.jpeg&w=3840&q=100"/> [ad_2] Source link