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Why should Poland consider pursuing a strategic alliance with Ukraine? [44]
I certainly hope so. Ukraine has a lot going for it: well educated population, mineral wealth, fertile soils. Proper governance, close integration with Western institutions and keeping Russian threat in check could change this country into a strong and prosperous democracy.
Poland have always wanted to pull Ukraine closer to the West and away from Russia. For reasons both romantic (Pilsudski's dream of an alliance/federation of Poland, Ukraine and Belarus as a recreation of the Commonwealth of Both Nations) and pragmatic (Russia deprived of Ukraine is merely a regional power, not a true empire). It may be considered self-serving, but at the same time Ukrainians would profit a lot from the deal, just as Poles profited from integration with the West.
Russia's aggression merely accelerated our efforts.
But we have to remember that it will also produce a number of costs. First, there is a question of actually pulling Ukraine into the EU - a process that will take 1-2 decades and force a number of concessions so that other countries allow it. And after Ukraine is in the EU, Warsaw's influence in Kyiv might actually weaken. Having achieved its strategic aim, Ukraine will have more prospects and close cooperation with Poland is not a given - of course it is possible, but only on the basis of common interests, not romantic "friendship of nations". Plus, we'll be competing for EU funds and Ukraine, still much poorer at the moment of EU accession, will probably receive a greater portion of these. Still, political profits for Poland from Western-aligned Ukraine surpass the financial costs.
