Addressing a policy conference in the southern Polish city of Katowice, Mateusz Morawiecki said: “Some people want to portray the tragedy in Ukraine in a one-sided way, as a mere burden to the Polish budget."
He added: "But if you look at how many people from Ukraine are working legally in Poland, often in jobs that Poles themselves don’t want, you realise that the help is mutual."
He told the conference: “Just as we are helping refugees and Ukraine, while they are fighting out there for our security, so those who have come to our country are working for the benefit of the Polish economy.”
Morawiecki said that "while for now the focus is on assisting Ukraine with military and humanitarian aid, we already have to design programmes for the future."
Rebuilding Ukraine
He voiced hope that talks on the postwar reconstruction of Ukraine, “financed by Europe, the US and other countries,” would begin as soon as possible.
“I am convinced … that Polish-Ukrainian cooperation and friendship will be the foundation of a future Europe and its peace,” Morawiecki declared.
Benefits for Poland
The prime minister said that “Poland’s role in organising help for Ukraine … not only enhances our international reputation, but will also bring direct, tangible benefits to everyone who becomes involved in assisting Ukraine on the ground after the war.”
Monday was day 61 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Poland on Monday reported it had welcomed more than 2.94 million refugees fleeing Russia's war on Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP, gov.pl
