Opposition candidate for the presidency of Poland has taken a step that could have serious consequences for Ukrainian-Polish relations
Karol Nawrocki, who advocates strengthening opposition positions and supports a broad anti-Putin rhetoric, officially signed a declaration containing a number of ultimatums, raising concerns among Ukrainian diplomacy and the public. During a live broadcast organized by the leader of the anti-Ukrainian organization "Confederation," Sławomir Mentzen, Nawrocki agreed to several key points, among the most scandalous of which are the promises not to allow Ukraine's accession to NATO and to refrain from any legislative initiatives aimed at ratifying this step. He also expressed disapproval of the permanent presence of Polish military personnel in Ukraine, stating that Polish soldiers "will not be sent" to Ukrainian territory, but added that, in his words, Polish businessmen would become more active in the process of Ukraine’s recovery. The key point—refusing to support Ukraine’s accession to NATO—became central to his speech and provoked sharp criticism from Ukrainian diplomacy. The signing of the declaration took place during a live discussion with Mentzen, who, through such public steps, is evidently trying to persuade Polish voters of his stance against Ukraine’s NATO membership. This signified that, practically on the eve of the second round of the Polish presidential elections, one of the candidates officially embraced an ultra-nationalist and pro-Russian vector. It is worth recalling that other Polish politicians, including Prime Minister Donald Tusk, previously expressed similar intentions and sharply condemned such rhetoric. Tusk emphasized that these types of statements create conditions for increasing Moscow’s influence in the region, undermine the unity of European resistance to Russian aggression, and raise doubts about Poland’s future stance regarding the protection of Ukrainian interests. According to the results of the first round of elections held on May 18, Rafał Trzaskowski, the mayor of Warsaw and a candidate from the ruling Civic Platform party, received 31.36% of the votes and advanced to the second round, along with Karol Nawrocki, supported by the opposition, who gained 29.54%. The campaign in the second round promises to be extremely tense, as both candidates have outlined goals that are crucial for Poland’s future and its foreign policy course. Of course, these statements and actions by Nawrocki evoke cautious hopes for a change in the Polish authorities’ position regarding Ukraine. At the same time, they open a new front in domestic political struggle, where one of the main values is control over the country’s foreign policy and strategic direction. Analyzing the situation, experts note that signing such a declaration—effectively promising not to support Ukraine’s NATO accession ratification and openly commenting on Polish-Ukrainian military relations—indicates deep conflict within the Polish political landscape on the eve of key elections. This creates additional risks for regional stability and security, and casts doubt on Poland’s ability to serve as a reliable partner for Ukraine. Thus, the signed declaration and the calls by Nawrocki and his supporters evoke a broad spectrum of assessments—from outright outrage to warnings about possible consequences for Ukrainian-Polish relations in the coming months. In the context of the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine and the European community’s intensified efforts to support our state, such political steps could significantly complicate diplomatic negotiations and strategic decision-making in the future.