The article characterizes the main aspects of geopolitical relations between Poland and
Ukraine. It presents a Russian impact on Ukrainian politics, the EU’s intention to affect the orientation
of Ukraine and NATO’s ambitions on the eastern flank. The article indicates the transformations
of the new statehood of Ukraine and its relationship with the environment. Russia makes
the strongest political and economic impact on Ukraine. Russia has subdued Crimea, supports the
rebellion in the east of Ukraine and seeks to maintain infl uence on the future orientation of the
country. Geopolitical impacts of the European Union and NATO are more limited.
In direct Polish-Ukrainian relations there is a Polish support for Ukrainian independence
and the new government, elected after the events on the Maidan at the end of 2013 and in 2014. The
effects of geopolitical conflict over the lands of Volyn and Eastern Galicia and disputes about land
Zakierzonia (located west of the so-called Curzon line) put a shadow on these relations. The new
Ukrainian authorities emphasize the activities of the Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN)
and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) that contributed to the ethnic cleansing of Polish population.
The effects of forced relocation of the Ukrainian population as part of the “Vistula” operation
in 1947 are not comparable.
Key words: geopolitics, Russian influence, Polish-Ukrainian cooperation, ethnic cleansing,
displacemen