Poland’s outgoing President Andrzej Duda, during a visit to Ukraine on Saturday, urged Kyiv to remain patient and understanding as power transitions to his nationalist successor, Karol Nawrocki.
Polish president-elect Nawrocki has said he is committed to keep helping Ukraine’s defences against Russia’s invasion, but has signalled a possible shift in Warsaw’s position by opposing Kyiv joining Western alliances such as NATO.
“Please be patient,” Duda told reporters at a press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “The world looks different from behind the presidential desk, slightly different from what it looks like to a candidate in elections.”
What Did Zelenskyy Say?
Sharing glimpses from their meeting on X, the Ukrainian president wrote: “Andrzej has stood with Ukraine since the first days of the war – always side by side, a reliable ally and a true friend. This is undoubtedly the level of relations we want to preserve and strengthen with Poland.”
Сьогодні, у День Конституції України, зустрівся з особливим гостем нашої держави – Президентом Польщі Анджеєм Дудою.
Анджей з Україною з перших днів війни, завжди пліч-о-пліч, надійний союзник і справжній друг. Це, безперечно, той рівень взаємин, які ми хочемо з Польщею… pic.twitter.com/cPMSL56yWq
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 28, 2025
We discussed the further development of relations between our countries, the security situation in the region, and possible decisions at the EU level and in coordination with NATO partners. These months, we have been implementing significant Ukrainian-Polish agreements in the field of defence cooperation. I hope that by the end of the six-month period, we will be able to say that together we have taken a meaningful step toward strengthening our security position.
“I thank Andrzej personally and the people of Poland for their support, for the substantial defence assistance, and for the joint decisions made in the name of our freedom and yours,” part of his post read.
Zelenskyy said he would “of course” invite Nawrocki to Ukraine after he assumes office.
Gesture Of Solidarity
Duda’s visit was a final gesture of solidarity from one of Ukraine’s most vocal wartime supporters as he prepares to hand over the presidency in August.
He was welcomed warmly and awarded an Order of Liberty by Zelenskyy, who is trying to rally support among Kyiv’s allies at a crucial juncture in the grinding war with Russia.
Ukraine is struggling to fend off Russian advances on the battlefield and intensifying missile and drone attacks on its cities as diplomatic efforts to end the fighting, now in its fourth year, have faltered.
Neighbouring Poland, where more than 1 million Ukrainians have sought refuge since Russia’s February 2022 invasion, has provided key humanitarian, political and military support to Kyiv.
(With inputs from Reuters)
