Polish President Karol Nawrocki wished Ukraine victory in its war against Russia and the restoration of its territorial integrity in a letter to President Volodymyr Zelensky marking Ukraine’s 35th anniversary of independence, Ukrainian officials said Wednesday, Aug. 26.
Nawrocki’s letter was confirmed by Marcin Przydacz, head of the International Policy Bureau of the Polish presidential office, during an interview with RMF FM.
“The letter was sent. I know because I saw it myself,” Przydacz said, adding that Nawrocki had wished Ukraine victory in the war against Russia.
The Polish president also stressed that Warsaw wants to maintain good-neighborly relations with Ukraine, while acknowledging tensions between the two countries and the need to address them through dialogue and historical truth.
Zelensky later published Nawrocki’s letter on social media.
“Poland’s support”
Nawrocki recalled Poland’s humanitarian and military assistance to Ukraine during the country’s reform process, the Orange Revolution, the Revolution of Dignity, Russia’s occupation of Crimea and the Donbas, and the full-scale Russian invasion launched in 2022.
“In Poland, the awareness is still alive that Ukraine is today fighting an existential struggle for independence and the ability to decide its future,” Nawrocki wrote.
He wished Ukraine the restoration of its territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders and paid tribute to Ukrainian soldiers and civilians fighting during the war.
Zelensky thanked Nawrocki and said Ukraine would “always remember Poland’s support.”
“We seek to develop ties between our two strong nations – with respect and truthfulness toward the past, a sober view of current threats and optimism regarding our common future in the EU and NATO,” Zelensky wrote.
The exchange comes amid ongoing efforts by Kyiv and Warsaw to manage historical and political tensions while maintaining close cooperation in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion.
On Aug. 24, Zelensky published Independence Day greetings from leaders of several countries, including the United States, Morocco, China and Mongolia. He initially shared only Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s public congratulatory message rather than Nawrocki’s letter.
According to Przydacz, however, the Polish president’s letter had been sent to Zelensky separately.