Poland is once again at the center of political discussions regarding NATO enlargement and Ukraine’s future in the military-political alliance
On the eve of the second round of presidential elections in the country, the candidate from the ruling Law and Justice party (PiS), incumbent Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, made an unexpected statement, refusing to support an initiative that proposes blocking Ukraine’s possible accession to NATO. This has drawn increased attention from experts and political observers, as the topic of Ukraine’s integration into NATO remains one of the most heated in Polish-Ukrainian relations. According to information published by Radio Zet and shared by the Ukrainian news portal "European Pravda," the initiative to ban Ukraine’s accession to NATO was put forward by ultraconservative politician Sławomir Mentzen — one of the most prominent anti-Putin and anti-Ukrainian figures in Polish politics. He proposed signing a declaration that, among other things, would prohibit any legal steps toward Ukraine’s membership in the military alliance. Other opponents of Ukrainian integration, including Karol Niewiadomski, a candidate from PiS, were also involved in this campaign. It is important to note that both candidates — Trzaskowski and Niewiadomski — will face each other in the second round of the presidential election held on June 1. According to their conversations with Mentzen, the leader of the Confederation, they accepted his invitation for a personal discussion, during which key points of his program were discussed. It is known that among the eight points of this program is a promise that, in the event of victory, the candidate will not sign any law ratifying Ukraine’s NATO membership. This particular point caused the most outrage from Trzaskowski. In interviews with Polish press outlets, he explicitly stated that he could not agree with such a statement and emphasized that security is a crucial factor for Poland and the region overall. “If Putin does not stop through any measures, we must understand that he will arm himself and continue his aggression. The only guarantee of our security is Ukraine’s integration into NATO. This is not only a strategic goal but also a necessity for regional stability,” he stressed. Reacting immediately to this position, Mentzen commented that “if Putin can attack Poland as a NATO member, then he is even more interested in attacking Ukraine.” The politician added that “this is the logic of the process and he understands it absolutely clearly.” Trzaskowski responded categorically: “I know Putin well and watch him carefully. He only responds to strength. Diplomacy and words will not suffice.” Essentially, he believes that the response to aggression should be strengthening defense and diplomatic pressure. Another important aspect is Mentzen’s statement that “Ukraine has unresolved borders and therefore its NATO membership is unpredictable.” In response, Trzaskowski emphasized that “Poland must strive for Ukraine’s accession. This is part of our security strategy, and even if the process takes 10-15 years, it is entirely feasible. It is important that our efforts focus on this direction.” At the same time, the candidate clarified that he opposes sending Polish troops to Ukraine, insisting that aid should be in the form of weapons and equipment but not directly on the frontlines. Meanwhile, within political circles, there is active discussion about recent events. On May 22, opposition-supported presidential candidate Karol Niewiadomski signed statements aligning with Mentzen’s proposals, including a ban on Ukraine’s NATO accession in exchange for his support in the second round. This became one of the most contentious topics during the pre-election debates, especially during the televised debates on May 23. There, Ukraine’s potential NATO membership was one of the main issues discussed, allowing experts and analysts to model possible scenarios for Poland’s future policies in light of the radical views held by the official candidates. This rhetoric and these political positions reflect the complexity of the situation in Poland ahead of the crucial elections. The choice between supporting active Ukrainian NATO integration and maintaining external diplomatic rhetoric that sometimes approaches pro-Russian narratives could determine not only the country’s future policies but also the security situation in the region. The situation remains tense, as on the one hand, there is a desire for stability and security, and on the other, political struggles and internal ideological conflicts. The events of recent days show that Ukraine’s security and its potential NATO membership continue to be among the most contentious and sensitive issues in Polish-Ukrainian relations.