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Poland’s New President Pushes Back on Ukraine’s EU Bid, Citing National Interests
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![Ivan_khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
-21d0b63c17f6020e4df75f6c6f9a2f4f.jpg "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Newly elected Polish President Karol Nawrocki has stated that he does not support Ukraine’s accession to the European Union “at this moment,” citing Poland’s national interests.
His comments were made during an interview with Hungarian outlet Mandiner, which is closely affiliated with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s political circle.
According to Nawrocki, while Poland recognizes the strategic importance of supporting Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression, each EU member state has its own priorities to consider.
“I am currently against Ukraine joining the European Union,” Nawrocki said. He acknowledged that Poland must continue to support Ukraine from a geopolitical perspective, emphasizing that Russia remains the greatest threat to the region.
He referred to Russia as a “post-imperial, neo-communist state led by a war criminal, Vladimir Putin,” and added that he himself has been targeted by Russian authorities, who issued legal threats against him during his tenure as head of Poland’s Institute of National Remembrance.
While reaffirming support for Ukraine in its ongoing war with Russia, Nawrocki emphasized the need for Kyiv to consider the interests of other European countries, particularly Poland and Hungary.
He specifically pointed to unresolved historical issues, including the Volhynia massacre, and economic concerns related to agriculture and logistics.
“Poland, for instance, has an interest in the exhumation of victims of the Volhynia tragedy. During my campaign and now as president, I do not support unfair competition from Ukraine in the agricultural or logistics sectors,” he stated, calling for compromise and consensus on these matters.
Nawrocki also highlighted Poland’s role in supporting Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, crediting former President Andrzej Duda and the Polish public for their response. However, he noted that this support should not exclude Poland from asserting its own national interests.
In addition, Nawrocki criticized Poland’s current government for weakening the rule of law and aligning too closely with the EU. He stressed that while he supports the European Union, he views it as a union of sovereign nations rather than a supranational state.
The Polish president also voiced his intention to revitalize cooperation within the Visegrád Group—Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia—which he said had diminished under the leadership of Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
Earlier, on June 3, Nawrocki reaffirmed Poland’s support for Ukraine in response to Zelenskyy’s message, stressing the need for mutual respect and resolving historical issues.
