Relations between Ukraine and Poland are now moving beyond a framework of mutual gratitude and shifting toward strict economic pragmatism and shared responsibility. This was the focus of the international conference “Europe. Poland. Ukraine: Cooperate Together’26,” held at the Hyatt Regency Kyiv hotel.
Participants in the discussion emphasized that the scale of economic cooperation between the two countries is enormous. On the one hand, Ukrainian businesses are investing billions in Poland (as confirmed by large-scale industry studies conducted by the Association of Exporters and Importers “ZED,” Nova Poshta, and the EasyMarkets portal). On the other hand, Poland remains a key logistical and strategic bridge for Ukraine on its path to European integration.
Poland’s Experience as a Model for Ukraine
Experts compare the current partnership between Ukraine and Poland to the relationship between Poland and Germany in the early 2000s, when Warsaw was just preparing to join the EU. Poland’s experience in finding compromises and practical solutions during its EU accession process is critically important for Ukrainian officials responsible for the European integration process.
At the same time, it is emphasized that European partners must adapt the terms of accession to Ukraine’s current realities.
“It is essential that the circumstances Ukraine has faced due to the destruction of its economy as a result of military aggression be properly taken into account and assessed by Brussels. This will make the process of Ukraine’s accession to the EU less painful for domestic producers, given the strict European requirements and standards,” market analysts note.
The Next Step — Gdańsk
The conference in Kyiv served as an important preparatory step toward an even larger event. The next key platform for deepening Ukrainian-Polish dialogue and attracting investment will be the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC 2026).
This international event will take place on June 25–26, 2026, in the Polish city of Gdańsk, where government officials, investors, and business representatives from both countries will move forward with developing specific projects to rebuild Ukraine’s infrastructure and industry.
