Poland has asked for additional EU funding to help pay for its efforts to accommodate millions of refugees who had flooded the country from neighbouring Ukraine.

In remarks published by the German tabloid Bild on Thursday, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said Poland was treating wounded soldiers from Ukraine.

He assured us that they had opened its doors and hearts to 2.5 million refugees.

Poland needed money to help fund that effort but so far, the EU had not paid a cent for the care of the refugees, he added.

Poland seeks fair treatment, according to Mr Morawiecki.

Turkey was supported with billions during the last refugee wave, and now Poland deserved EU assistance, he said.

Mr Morawiecki also expressed outrage at former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder (SPD).

Mr Schroder, had been heavily criticised for not giving up his posts at Russian energy companies despite of the Russian attack on Ukraine.

When asked if he would still shake Mr Schröder’s hand, Mr Morawiecki said, “No, definitely not.’’

On the issue of Europe’s dependency on Russian gas, the Polish prime minister noted that Warsaw had repeatedly warned Berlin against gas pipelines from Russia.

But these entreaties had fallen on deaf ears, he said.

Poles had never had any illusions about Kremlin policies and their repercussions, Mr Morawiecki asserted.

But better late than never, he added.

(dpa/NAN)