Newly elected President of Poland Karol Nawrocki has declared that he currently does not support Ukraine’s accession to the European Union through an expedited procedure, reports Baltimore Chronicle with reference to Mandiner.
In a post-election statement, Nawrocki plainly said: “At the moment, I am against Ukraine joining the European Union.” At the same time, he emphasized that Poland must continue to support Ukraine from both a strategic and geopolitical perspective.
The Polish leader highlighted that, for him and the entire region, the greatest threat remains the Russian Federation. “It is a post-imperial, neo-communist state led by Vladimir Putin, a war criminal. I am highly critical of the Russian Federation, where, incidentally, I am being prosecuted as President of the Institute of National Remembrance. I face a five-year prison sentence,” Nawrocki stated.
However, he also stressed the importance of recognizing the national interests of other EU countries. “On the one hand, we must support Ukraine in its conflict with the Russian Federation. On the other hand, Ukraine must understand that other countries, including Poland and Hungary, and other European nations, also have their own interests,” the president said.
Nawrocki particularly emphasized Poland’s interest in the exhumation of victims of the Volhynia massacre, which remains a sensitive issue for Warsaw. He also opposed what he termed “unfair competition” with Ukraine in sectors like Polish agriculture and logistics.
“We must reach a compromise and consensus on these issues. I see Ukraine as a country that is bravely defending itself against the Russian Federation, but it must also respect the interests of other nations that support it,” he concluded.
In the second round of Poland’s presidential election, Karol Nawrocki, backed by the right-wing opposition, secured 50.89% of the vote. His opponent, current Warsaw Deputy Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, received 49.11% of the vote.
Earlier we wrote about Poland’s new president and his view on Ukraine.