Vladislav Gulevich: when the matter concerns politics tricks Poland closes eyes to everything!

Crisis in Ukraine in many respects is also the creation of external forces activity each of which pursues own interests. The political scientist Vladislav Gulevich reflects about what is the position of Poland, what its plans concerning the neighboring state:
— How do you think is it possible to say that the policy of Poland was united in relation to Ukraine for two last decades?

- I think that always there was the same policy. It could fluctuate within several degrees, but its general contour remained invariable. Poland always supported idea of the Ukrainian independence. It is necessary to tell that supporters of this idea always were more in Poland, than in Ukraine. Well and after disorder of the USSR this course was continued.

- That is, changes in the government structure of Poland following the results of parliamentary elections especially influenced nothing in this respect?

- The course was conducted irrespective of it. Something changed only when Ukraine took some steps towards to Russia. As soon as Ukraine stopped taking such steps then the Polish criticism of Ukraine stopped at once.

— Do you see the Polish trace in a kaleidoscope of events in Ukraine since the Maidan?

- Of course. Remember how Jaroslaw Kaczynski acted on the Maidan, the leader of national and clerical party Law and Justice Party. It is the most nationalist party in Poland and it has serious influence. This party leans on conservative Catholic circles.

But Poland supported the Ukrainian nationalism and nationalist parties till Maidan. The little-known fact, but this is true: these little-known Ukrainian organizations have the cells in Poland. For example, in Przemysl. And now remember what exactly Kaczynski shouted on the Maidan?! He shouted the slogan: «Glory to Ukraine! Glory to heroes!». But we know that it was the Bandera slogan!

Today Poland urges Europe to give military aid to Kiev, to give diplomatic help. I think that without active participation of Poland events in Ukraine could develop in other key.

— — The course of the Polish authorities is absolutely clear but how then in Poland react to a subject of the Volhynian massacre?

- This is just the cornerstone! But at first I will notice that by my estimates about 30% of Poles support Donets Basin though the majority, naturally, sides with Kiev, first of all, because of massive anti-Russian promotion. And here on this background there is a subject of the Volhynian massacre which is one of basic elements of the Polish patriotism, the Polish historical memory.

It was the present tragedy for Poland but when the matter concerns politics tricks, so they easily close eyes to that the main operating forces in Ukraine are just neo-Banderovites. It turns out that Poland is included into arrangement with them! If it is favorable to them, they forget about the Volhynian massacre at once. Of course, ordinary citizens are revolted with it as are convinced that it is impossible to trade in history of the country and the people, blood of the ancestors.

Such politicians as the leader of «Right Sector» Dmitry Yarosh, the same late Oleksandr Muzychko are the ideological successors of those who killed Poles on Volhynia. And other Ukrainian politicians, who aren’t neo-Banderovites according to them, adhere to the same course, proceeding from tactical reasons. It is Klitschko who in television air said that the Ukrainian nationalists fought for freedom of Ukraine in the ranks of Wehrmacht. It is Petro Poroshenko who told that it is necessary to be proud of a yellow-blue flag because the heroes of OUN-UPA battled under it. Today the Ukrainian political firmament is forced by neo-Bandera figures. But Poland simply closes eyes to it.

And if concerning Russia they show extreme vulnerability, it is worth concerning some historical wound in the Russian-Polish relations, so Poland is ready to close eyes to any subject concerning Ukraine. It concerns also participation of the Ukrainian nationalists in the Volhynian massacre. The main thing is that it would bring them some political benefits exactly today.

- — The Polish policy is unambiguously directed against federalization of Ukraine, against independence of the Southeast of the country?

- Poland doesn’t need the federalization of Ukraine at all. Here all the matter is that Poles consider the lack of strategic depth as the main problem in the relations with Russia. Therefore they need the biggest independent Ukraine. The more Ukraine, the farther Russia from them. And, respectively, they are in bigger safety according to their thought.

Besides, Ukraine as NOT — Russia, but as ANTI-— Russia crashes into a body of the Russian statehood on their representations. Poland can have impact on the government in Kiev and Kiev has to impact on the neighboring Russian regions. After all Donets Basin is not so far from the Caucasus and the Caspian Sea. And the Caspian Sea now draws attention of many political elite both in the USA and Europe and Iran too. Therefore, the biggest Ukraine which most far crashes into a body of Russia is very favorable to Poland from the geopolitical point. That is why they don’t want to hear something about any federalization.

- — In the time of troubles there are always many ideas even the most paradoxical. In the press there were messages that Poland could apply for the territory of the Western Ukraine. As far is it real?

- Of course, such things aren’t discussed at the official level. And I think if such happens Poland actually would be not so glad. Of course, east territories for Poles are as a cradle of the Polish culture, very important page of the Polish history and the page not momentary, but centuries-old. At the ordinary level, of course, the accession of these lands is as a balm to the soul for the Pole. But as the state, Poland will be guided by cold calculation: if such accession took place, after all then Poland attached also that neo-Bandera element …

- One more question is asked often in relation to today’s Poland: why it acts as the chief conductor of the American policy in East Europe (and not only!)?

- Here both the political ambitions and traits of the Polish national character merged together. Poland positions itself as Caesar’s wife, who is out of suspicions as we know … It leans on the USA in hope to receive the help for realization of the expansionist plans. This strategy remains if not in respect of change of frontiers towards expansion, but absolutely exactly in the cultural and ideological plan! And, certainly, Poland has intentions completely to involve Kiev in the sphere of the influence.