Refugees not forced to stay in Poland, ruling party leader says

Jarosław Kaczyński, the leader of Law and Justice, the dominant party on Poland’s governing coalition, has said he opposes the relocation of refugees.

He also said Poland had no refugee camps and it was up to the refugees to either remain in Poland or go elsewhere in the EU.

"There are no camps for Ukrainian refugees in Poland," he said. "We have a rule - no relocations. Whoever wants to stay stays, who wants to leave leaves," Kaczyński said.

In a wide-ranging interview Kaczyński also said a peace-keeping mission to Ukraine could help alleviate the humanitarian situation in the country, and "positively influence the strategic situation."

Referring to the belief that any mission could be seen by Russia as Nato's entry into the war, Kaczyński said the force would operate in full conformance with international law and would be no threat to Russia as it would operate in Ukraine.

Commenting on rumours that he may leave the government, where he is a deputy prime minister for security affairs, Kaczyński said he had decided to remain owing to the Russia-Ukraine war.

"Russia has unleashed a war in Ukraine, and no-one can say when it will end. In this extraordinary situation I have decided to remain in the government," Kaczyński said.