Poland’s President-Elect Urges Ukraine to Address Historical Grievances
WARSAW – Poland’s president-elect Karol Nawrocki urged Ukraine to take Polish historical grievances more seriously in his first official call with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, marking a clear shift in Warsaw’s tone toward Kyiv ahead of his swearing-in on 6 August, reports 24brussels.
Nawrocki, endorsed by the opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, secured the presidency on 1 June, committing to a tougher stance on Ukraine’s EU and NATO aspirations while addressing unresolved historical disputes. A primary issue remains the Volhynia massacre during World War II, in which thousands of Poles were killed by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army.
“Karol Nawrocki stressed that he represents the voice of the Nation, which demands a change in Ukraine’s approach to important and still unresolved historical issues. This needs to change,” Nawrocki’s spokesperson Rafał Leśkiewicz stated.
While Nawrocki has political ties to outgoing President Andrzej Duda, his approach markedly contrasts with Duda’s, who maintained close relations with Zelenskyy following Russia’s invasion in 2022.
In November 2024, Polish and Ukrainian foreign ministers recognized progress on the historical dispute, indicating collaborative efforts toward the exhumation of victims. This followed a year prior when Duda and Zelenskyy jointly commemorated the 80th anniversary of the massacre.
Despite adopting a firmer stance, Nawrocki reaffirmed Poland’s commitment to supporting Ukraine’s resistance against Russian aggression.
“Russia is a neo-imperial and colonial state, ruled by a war criminal, Vladimir Putin. Therefore, Ukraine, which is fighting against the Kremlin regime, can count on Poland’s support,” Leśkiewicz added.
