Answer:
Poland is not a former Soviet republic; it has a distinct history and was never part of the Soviet Union.
Option (D) is true.
Step-by-step explanation:
Poland is not a former Soviet republic.
It was never part of the Soviet Union, which was a federation of multiple republics, including Ukraine, Latvia, and Georgia.
Poland is a Central European country with a rich history and a distinct cultural and political trajectory.
Throughout much of the 20th century, Poland experienced significant geopolitical changes.
It gained independence in 1918 after World War I, following more than a century of partitions by neighboring powers.
During World War II, it suffered immensely, with the invasion by Nazi Germany in 1939 and subsequent occupation.
The post-war period saw Poland fall under Soviet influence, becoming a socialist state within the Eastern Bloc, but it retained its status as an independent country.
Poland played a pivotal role in the collapse of the Eastern Bloc and the end of the Cold War.
It underwent a peaceful transition to democracy in 1989, setting the stage for its integration into Western political and economic structures.
Unlike the former Soviet republics, Poland has followed a unique historical and political path, distinct from the Soviet Union and its sphere of influence.
Thus,
Option (D) is true.