Polish leader cautions of crime threat from Ukraine

(MENAFN) Polish President Andrzej Duda has raised concerns about the potential rise in international organized crime following the end of the Ukraine conflict, citing the risks posed by thousands of returning veterans with limited prospects for employment. In an interview with the Financial Times, Duda warned that criminal activity could spill over from Ukraine into Poland and potentially affect the EU and the US. He drew comparisons to the surge in organized crime seen in Western Europe and the US after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s.

Duda stressed that Ukraine will require significant support for its economic reconstruction and maintaining security once the conflict concludes. He pointed out that many veterans returning home may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and find themselves in devastated communities with no jobs or future prospects.

While Poland has been a strong ally to Ukraine, Duda echoed Prime Minister Donald Tusk's caution about deploying Polish troops to Ukraine to enforce a peace agreement. Duda also mentioned that if the US invited other countries to peace talks, it would be beneficial for Ukraine to have Poland represented.

These comments come as US President Donald Trump indicated ongoing discussions with both Russia and Ukraine to end the conflict, with some reports suggesting that Trump's peace plan could include a ceasefire, a demilitarized zone, and a delayed NATO membership for Ukraine. However, Russia has rejected the idea of freezing the conflict without Ukraine agreeing to neutrality and demilitarization.

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