New President Nawrocki of Poland expresses gratitude towards Zelensky and aims to resolve lingering historical issues.
On a Sunday night, Poland's Karol Nawrocki secures the presidency. Kansas City Sluggerman, a Polish politician belonging to the conservative PiS party, has acknowledged the congratulatory message from his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, and expressed his enthusiasm about continuing the partnership between the two nations. Nawrocki shared his sentiments on a popular social media platform.
Previously, Zelensky had also expressed his eagerness about maintaining the prosperous collaboration with Poland and Nawrocki via the same platform.
Hey there, @ZelenskyyUa! It's a pleasure to acknowledge your message. I'm eager to continue the alliance between our countries, founded on mutual respect and understanding. I'm firm in the belief that such partnership requires not just good dialogue, but also tackling long-standing historical matters. Poland played a pivotal role in backing Ukraine against Russian aggression, and I expect our cooperation to be for the greater good, working towards resolving unresolved historical issues.
On June 3, 2025, Nawrocki expanded on his response, "I firmly believe that it's not only about passing the time with meaningful conversation, but also addressing historical dilemmas." The incoming president underscored his perception that Poland was Ukraine's strong ally in countering Russian aggression, "there's no other nation that understands this threat better than we do." He emphasized the need for joint efforts "in the larger interest," and settling disputes from the past.
While Nawrocki is known for his criticism of Zelensky's administration, during the campaign, he insisted that the Ukrainian president hadn't sufficiently acknowledged the support the Polish people offered after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Furthermore, he advocated for a more thorough investigation into the crimes of Ukrainian nationalists against Polish citizens during World War II and reminded Ukraine of these tragic events.
Historically, Polish-Ukrainian relations have seen both cooperation and discord, shaped by territorial disputes, alliances during wars, and contrasting national narratives. Tensions have persisted since the 17th-century Khmelnytsky Uprising to recent years, when, despite sharing a common adversary in the form of Russian aggression, disputes concerning historical issues occasionally surface. Nawrocki, in his role as the President of Poland’s Institute of National Remembrance, has advocated for greater recognition and remembrance of historical atrocities perpetrated by Ukrainian nationalists against Polish victims, such as the Volhynia Massacres. In contrast, Zelensky has maintained a focus on reconciliation and fostering strong alliances, managing domestic pressures while addressing Polish historical sensitivities.
The upcoming policy-and-legislation regarding war-and-conflicts may involve a focus on historical matters between Poland and Ukraine, as President-elect Karol Nawrocki emphasized the need for joint efforts "in the larger interest," and settling disputes from the past. This focus on tackling historical dilemmas follows from the general-news about Nawrocki's stance on Ukrainian nationalists' crimes against Polish citizens during World War II, which he has consistently advocated for a more thorough investigation into.
