Kyiv wants “constructive and productive” dialogue with the new Polish president, Karol Nawrocki, Ukraine’s ambassador to Warsaw has said after the conservative politician was sworn in on Wednesday.
The presidency of Nawrocki, a right-winger, is expected to deepen a political standoff with centrist Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s pro-EU government. At the same time, Kyiv fears it could also strain ties between Poland and Ukraine.
Nawrocki is backed by the right-wing opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, which supported former conservative President Andrzej Duda. But some of the new head of state’s views on defense and security – particularly his opposition to Ukraine entering NATO and the EU – differ from those of his predecessor.
While Duda supported Ukraine’s NATO bid, Nawrocki warned during his presidential campaign that Kyiv joining the military alliance could put NATO in direct conflict with Moscow.
“Ukraine joining NATO would mean that the entire North Atlantic Alliance would be at war with the Russian Federation,” he said.
Nawrocki has also suggested that historical disputes between Warsaw and Kyiv, especially the killings of Polish civilians during World War Two by Ukrainian nationalists – known as the Volhynia massacres – must be settled before Kyiv can count on Polish support for joining the EU and NATO.
During his inauguration speech on Wednesday, Nawrocki made no direct mention of Ukraine, further fueling concerns that he might push for a more skeptical and critical stance on support for the embattled country that has relied heavily on Polish backing since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.
Kyiv hopes for cooperation
Despite Nawrocki’s seemingly hawkish stance, Ukrainian ambassador to Poland Vasyl Bodnar, who attended the presidential inauguration ceremony in Warsaw, said Kyiv hoped for constructive ties with the new Polish head of state.
“We hope the dialogue will be constructive and productive,” Bodnar told Ukrainian state news agency Ukrinform. He added that Kyiv was ready to work with Warsaw on a wide range of issues – from defense cooperation and Ukraine’s postwar recovery to sensitive historical matters.
He said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had already congratulated Nawrocki and held a phone call with him, during which he invited the Polish leader to visit Ukraine.
Both sides are now working to set a date for the visit, which Bodnar said “will be announced in the near future.”
Ukraine seeks reciprocity
The ambassador also said Ukraine is showing openness to resolving historical issues, pointing out that Kyiv recently approved the exhumation of Polish victims in Ukraine. But he added that Kyiv expects reciprocity from Warsaw.
“We hope that the Polish side will also be open to cooperation in conducting exhumations on the territory of Poland.
“We are currently preparing a team and hope that the relevant work will begin there in the near future.”
“Strategic interest in security and regional stability must shape our future relations,” Bodnar said, adding that Poland’s role as a hub for international logistical and military aid to Ukraine remained indispensable.