They're protecting Europe just by being a buffor state between EU/NATO and Russia. Like I said, they're not doing it out of kindness, they're trying to save their own country and lives - Europe is profiting in this equation simply on Ukraine being where it is. Countries will chip in donations, be it arms or humanitarian aid, because no matter how much they give it's better than being in a war against Russia ourselves.

Many refugees who entered Poland moved on to another country where their families are, or returned back to Ukraine already.

Also Poland doesn't have 4 million Ukrainians in its borders now, it's below that. Over a million was Ukrainians already living in the country prior to the Russian invasion.

...I never said they're the heroes of the west? I'm Polish myself, I know what the opinions and views of these issues are. Regardless of intentions, Europe would rather have Russia and Ukraine duke it out on Ukraine's soil while supporting Ukraine financially and arms wise, because that is preferable to the war coming to our own side of the fence. In that sense, Ukraine is defending Europe, and that's why Europe is supporting Ukraine. Obviously they're not doing it to defend us, but for their own survival, but it all works out in everyone's interest.

One claim does not make the other untrue, just like how a country can be in world top 10 spenders on their military but the US will still be more than the other 9 combined. Germany doesn't invest that much into their own military themselves (at least they finally started doing it now), so while it may not be a lot compared to what the USA or UK is doing, it's still a lot relatively.

They're protecting other countries from having to take part in the war and ultimately having military and civilian people dying. That's not to say NATO wouldn't win, but we don't want to have that fight happen in the first place.