Zelenskyy Calls Poland a Key Partner

Zelenskyy said Ukraine and Poland are large neighboring countries and should maintain close relations.

He argued that if the conflict is viewed as a struggle involving Ukraine's independence and democracy, then European countries also have an interest in maintaining unity.

“We need unity not only with Poland, but with all of Europe,” Zelenskyy said, while placing particular emphasis on Poland because of the two countries' shared border and regional ties.

His remarks came after a meeting with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk during the Carpathian Eight summit in western Ukraine. Zelenskyy said Ukraine and Poland are strong neighbors, friends and partners with a common enemy, and stressed the importance of working together to end the war.

Ukraine and Poland Strengthen Cooperation

Relations between Kyiv and Warsaw have remained an important part of Ukraine's regional strategy during the war.

Poland recently joined a coalition with Ukraine and other countries to work on a new anti-ballistic missile system. Tusk also announced additional support for Ukraine during the Carpathian Eight summit.

The summit brought together Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary and Serbia to discuss security, energy and economic cooperation.

Zelenskyy Expects Ukrainians to Return

Zelenskyy said he believes Ukrainians who left because of the war will return, but he does not know what percentage will eventually come back.

He said the decision will depend partly on whether Ukrainians maintain a connection to their homeland while living abroad.

According to Zelenskyy, education and the role of parents will also matter, particularly for children who have spent years outside Ukraine.

He suggested that maintaining Ukrainian language, identity and connections to the country could influence whether younger generations eventually choose to return.

Jobs and Reconstruction Could Influence Decisions

Zelenskyy said the conditions created inside Ukraine after the war will be another major factor.

He specifically mentioned rebuilding the state, creating favorable conditions for businesses and providing jobs.

The issue of return is already part of broader international discussions about Ukraine's recovery. The EU reported more than 4.7 million registrations for temporary protection by Ukrainians across the EU+ as of September 2026, while more than 871,000 Ukrainian children had been integrated into national school systems in EU member states.

Ukraine's recovery plans also place significant emphasis on investment, infrastructure and economic opportunities. At the 2026 Ukraine Recovery Conference, governments and institutions announced agreements covering reconstruction, energy, transport and other sectors.

Different Generations Have Left Ukraine

Zelenskyy noted that Ukrainians who left the country are not one single group.

He said people from different generations have left, including families with young children and older people.

At the same time, many Ukrainians remained in the country and joined the military or otherwise contributed to the war effort.

Zelenskyy said people made different choices during the conflict and that they will similarly have different choices to make once the fighting ends.

Return Will Ultimately Be a Personal Choice

Zelenskyy emphasized that every person will decide individually whether to return to Ukraine after the war.

The decision could depend on family circumstances, security, education, employment, housing and economic conditions.

Humanitarian organizations have also stressed that safe and voluntary returns will depend on reconstruction and the restoration of essential services. UNHCR says creating conditions for safe return will be important for Ukraine's longer-term recovery.

Europe and Ukraine Face a Long-Term Recovery Challenge

The return of displaced Ukrainians is closely connected to the country's future economic and demographic situation.

A 2026 joint statement by human-rights and humanitarian organizations said that return policies should be connected with economic opportunities, legal security, social services and broader recovery planning. It estimated that millions of Ukrainians remained displaced outside the country.

Zelenskyy's comments therefore link the end of the war with a much broader challenge: rebuilding Ukraine in a way that gives people who left meaningful reasons and opportunities to return.

Key Points

  • Zelenskyy described Russia as Ukraine's enemy in the context of its independence and democracy.
  • He called for unity between Ukraine, Poland and other European countries.
  • He described Poland as an important partner because the countries are close neighbors.
  • Zelenskyy said he expects some Ukrainians to return after the war.
  • He said the percentage who return cannot yet be known.
  • Education, family connections and maintaining ties to Ukraine could influence decisions.
  • Jobs, business opportunities and reconstruction will also be important factors.
  • He said people who left and those who stayed made different choices during the war.
  • Zelenskyy emphasized that individuals will ultimately decide whether to return.

Source

This article is based on remarks attributed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy concerning Ukraine's relations with Poland and Europe and the future return of Ukrainians displaced by the war.