Slovaks perceive Ukrainians negatively. The survey showed unfavorability – Startitup

“We believe in a quick end to the war, but 80% of the refugees will want or have to stay in this country. Why do Slovaks perceive it as a threat and not as an opportunity?” asks Olesia Paskarenková, a Ukrainian living in Slovakia for a long time. “I am very surprised by the results. I did not expect that it would be carried in such a negative format,” she said at a press conference. “I think that all Ukrainians would like to say thank you for what they have already received. The state was not prepared for such a wave of fleeing people. I was pleasantly surprised by how the state was able to react,” Olesia explains. The Ukrainian woman has been living in Slovakia for several years and sees herself as part of the Slovak community. She herself pointed out that the Slovaks had really done a lot for her compatriots since the beginning of the war. According to her, many have returned to us from neighboring countries, Poland and the Czech Republic. However, this trend is fading. Olesia explains that many Ukrainians would like to stay in Slovakia even after the end of the war, and therefore she is not happy with the results of the survey. “Many have nowhere to return, have lost their jobs or have no reason to – there is a crisis waiting for them. They realize that they have a better future here,” she said. According to Paskarenkova, Ukrainians can improve Slovakia. They are often people who can bring something new and have entrepreneurial skills.