Poland helps Ukraine with almost 5% of its GDP, 85% of which goes to refugees

The Office of the Polish President (OP) has released an infographic showing that the country has allocated 4.91% of its GDP to help Ukraine since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.

The Office of the Polish President stressed on X (Twitter) that Poland ranks first among the countries supporting Ukraine in terms of GDP per centage. It was the first to supply Ukraine with large-scale heavy weapons. In addition, the OP emphasises that Poland is among the countries that has received the most refugees from Ukraine.

"Poland has earmarked 4.91% of its GDP for this assistance, with 0.71% of GDP allocated to support Ukraine and 4.2% of GDP dedicated to the cost of assisting Ukrainian refugees," one of the reports said.

Thus, approximately 85% of the aid allocated by Warsaw went to help Ukrainian refugees in Poland.

The office noted that Poland supplied Ukraine with the first batch of T-72 tanks in the first half of 2022. "We also gave more than 250 BWP-1 infantry fighting vehicles, 100 KTO Rosomak armoured personnel carriers, nine BRDM 2 reconnaissance vehicles, more than a hundred self–propelled guns, more than 30 BM-21 Grad rocket launchers," the statement said.

In total, Poland has provided Ukraine with military assistance worth 3.23 billion euros, or more than 14 billion zlotys.

"A total of 14 of our MiG–29s and 12 Mi–24 helicopters have been given to the Ukrainian Air Force to boost its strength (only the United States has donated more)," the Polish OP said.

The Polish Office of the President also noted that the vast majority of the Polish public was involved in helping refugees from Ukraine. According to a survey conducted by the Polish Economic Institute, 77% of Poles are involved.

It was also emphasised that Poland has the highest recorded percentage of Ukrainian refugees who have found employment – 65%.

Earlier, the Polish foreign minister said that his country has done more for Ukraine than any other country.

"Among the countries that help Ukraine, if we take into account military, financial, economic, humanitarian [assistance], and the assistance for Ukrainian refugees, Poland has done more for Ukraine in terms of GDP than any other nation," he said.

On 14 November, Polish President Andrzej Duda said that he touched upon the possibility of supplying Soviet MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine at a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

Later, Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz rejected calls from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to expedite the supply of MiG-29s to Ukraine, citing the same reason.