What does Navrotsky’s veto on aid to Ukrainians mean: explanation from the embassy
27 August 23:37
The Embassy of Ukraine in Poland has provided clarification on President Karol Navrotsky’s veto of amendments to the special law on assistance to Ukrainian refugees. This is stated in the embassy’s Facebook post, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
According to the diplomatic mission, the current special law on support for Ukrainians is valid until September 30, 2025, so the conditions for Ukrainian citizens to stay in Poland remain unchanged. At the same time, the temporary protection regime for Ukrainians has been extended by the decision of the Council of the European Union until March 4, 2027, and it also applies to the territory of Poland.
“Decisions of the EU Council are binding on all member states, and their implementation is ensured by national legislation,” the embassy emphasized.
Diplomats urged Ukrainians not to make hasty decisions about changing their legal status in Poland. The Ministry recommends that in difficult cases, Ukrainians seek legal advice to analyze individual situations and choose the best legal options.
What happened
on August 25, Polish President Karol Nawrocki vetoed a bill passed by the Sejm that provided for extended social support for Ukrainian citizens. The head of state said that the 800 Plus program and free medical services should be provided only to those Ukrainians who are officially employed in Poland.
The very next day, the President’s office submitted a new bill to parliament that reflected this position.
It is worth recalling that as of June 1, 2025, the updated rules of the 800 program for Ukrainians are already in effect in Poland: now, in order to receive payments, a child must attend a Polish kindergarten or school. An exception is made only for children who study at home.
Reaction in Poland
Nawrocki’s decision caused a loud political outcry. The Minister of Digitalization Krzysztof Gawkowski sharply criticized the veto, saying that it could even lead to the disconnection of Starlink for Ukraine and the termination of Poland’s provision of cloud storage services.
The President’s Office reacted to these words with restraint. The head of the office, Zbigniew Bogucki, said that there is currently no reason to predict the termination of Starlink in Ukraine, which is funded by the Polish side.
Meanwhile, the Polish government has begun work on an alternative bill to limit aid to Ukrainians, which may indicate a political compromise between the executive and legislative branches.
What it means for Ukrainians
Despite Nawrocki’s veto, the legal status of Ukrainians in Poland remains in force at least until the end of September 2025. And thanks to the decision of the EU Council, the temporary protection regime will be in effect until March 2027, which guarantees Ukrainians basic rights to residence, access to the labor market and social services.
The final changes in the amount of support will depend on which version of the new draft law is adopted by the Polish parliament.
