because of the past but also because of Putin.
Putin is the best leader that Russians can afford now. He provides stability and slow but steady progress. It is quite liberal, compared to many western politicians - there is some media outlets like Echo of Moscow or Silver Rain that blame everything that they see around - but nobody tries to shut it up or cut their access to broadcasting resources (like RT in US or UK). Open extremism is prosecuted immediately, at the same time. Putin is really expensive guy, even US Federal Reserve cannot print enough dollars to buy them (anathema!). And, last but not least, any competitors on a last elections was dwarfs, compared to Putin, in almost all aspects.
Now about relation between Poland and Russia. Let's compare Finland and Poland - both was de-facto vassal states in Russian Empire, both secessed shortly after Nov'1917, when long run of German support for marxist radicals in Russia ended with a communistic revolt and put Russia into a hell of civil war, that was complemented by intervention of foreign military forces. Germany neutralised their current opponent - and created something else, much worse to them as history shown later. Jews, that was somewhat oppressed in russian empire come to full power - and shown the world how things can go wrong.
Finland had fo fight with USSR right before WW-II, and during WW-II Finland was on a wrong side (but was smart enough to stop once germans start to require too much from them).
Now Finland have MUCH, MUCH better relations with Russia, compared to Poland, and making money, profiting from trade. Why? It is pretty simple - finns left the past to history books and museums (yes, there is plenty, and I like to visit that small museums once I have free time while in Finland) and concentrated on current interests of Finland. They not destroying any monuments, not trying to make some stupid moves to show someone that Finland is the country that should be taken into account. They just act as a country that had to be taken into account, and act in interests of Finland, not NATO, US, UK. Even EC interests is somewhat on a second plan (as long as it is possible) once it come to business. Finland not trying to put as much as possible foreign military forces on their territory - and finnish border is one of calmest parts of russian border.
So, if Poland will start acting predominantly in Polish interests, not de-facto under NATO control, it would make a difference. Be pragmatic and stop shouting insults every 5 minutes, and russians will respond by the same (may be not immediately, as they become a bit deaf to anything that they hear from Polish side after a years of **** throwing to all available fans).
None of us will survive Washington's insanity.
That's why Putin showed few new weapons, that is not designed to win a war - but to assure that attacker will not survive this war in any case, guaranteed. It caused panic in a Washington, and we see a row of really stupid moves last months. They cannot decide - is "window of possibilities" to make first strike already closed or it is closing right now. Should they start WW3 now, or it is too late? And what to do with very expensive military projects, that become obsolete before they completed, with US$21+ trillion of debt on a background?