Zelenskyy asks Tusk to support Ukrainian students in Poland: Details
Photo: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk (Getty Images)
Poland introduced regulatory changes that affected Ukrainian students and applicants. Against the backdrop of war, such difficulties for young people are felt especially painfully, so Ukraine has asked the Polish government to review the situation and help resolve it, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reports.
The President of Ukraine held an important conversation with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, during which the two leaders discussed several key issues. Among them:
- joint efforts for peace,
- development of defense production,
- support for Ukrainians,
- negotiation process regarding Ukraine's EU membership.
During the conversation, Zelenskyy informed Tusk about recent talks with US President Donald Trump and European leaders. The parties discussed existing diplomatic opportunities and agreed to coordinate actions in the interest of shared European goals.
The conversation also touched on the regulatory changes in Poland that have affected Ukrainian students and applicants.
"During such a war, any difficulties for children, students are felt especially painfully. I asked Donald to consider this situation and help Ukrainian youth," Zelenskyy said.
Regulatory changes for applicants in Poland
In recent days, Poland's Ministry of Science and Higher Education issued a decree that could block university admissions for many foreign applicants, including those from Ukraine.
To confirm knowledge of Polish or another required language, foreign applicants now need certificates, which they often don't have time to obtain. Admission to a Polish university now requires at least a B2-level language certificate.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that the law changed on July 1, but the regulation came into force only on August 1, and throughout July, universities were admitting applicants based on a draft version of the regulation.
That draft stated that universities could assess language proficiency themselves. However, it has now become clear that universities have been stripped of that right.
RBC-Ukraine previously reported on how much it costs to study at the top universities in Warsaw.
