Opposing Ukraine's EU membership, the newly-elected Polish President voices his disapproval.
Poland's New Prez Krzysztof Nowak on Ukraine's EU Dream
The newly crowned Polish President Krzysztof Nowak has openly voiced his disagreement with Ukraine's entry into the European Union, airing his grievances during an interview with Hungarian Mandiner. When quizzed about the EU commission's urging to hasten Kyiv's incorporation, Nowak declared, "As of now, I'm against Ukraine's admission to the EU."
He articulated that while European nations stand by Ukraine in the battlefield, Ukraine must comprehend other nations, including Poland and Hungary, have their set of priorities at stake.
Among these concerns, Nowak expounded on the exhumation of victims of the Volyn Massacre tragedy. He also specified that during his election run, he advocated against unjust trade competition owing to the wave of Ukrainian agricultural products.
What's the Volyn Massacre About?
The Volyn Massacre, a horrific chapter in the annals of Western Ukraine, unfolded between 1942 and 1943. Upon the dictate of local OUN-UPA authority, Ukrainian nationalists cold-bloodedly massacred an estimated 50,000 to 100,000 Poles in the Volyn region. In 2016, Poland officially identified the Volyn Massacre as genocide and designated July 11 as a day of mourning for the fallen[3]. Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs contested this decision, stating that such actions hinder reconciliation and mutual understanding between the two nations.
Edgy EU Talks Ahead
Backed by his experience as the head of the National Remembrance Institute and the Museum of WWII, Nowak, elected on June 2 with a razor-thin margin, intends to tackle "overdue historical matters" with Ukraine[5]. In his congratulatory message, Zelensky expressed optimism for a productive partnership and underscored Poland's pivotal role in regional and Euro-Atlantic security. However, Nowak's appraisal of Ukraine's NATO bid and his stance on EU membership have not gone unnoticed.
Ukraine's reluctance to join NATO is one of Moscow's demands for resolving the conflict. Meanwhile, Hungary concurs with Nowak, fearing potential "eternal war" with Ukraine's EU membership. In contrast, Brussels is gearing up for discussions on Ukraine's bid, pitched to commence as early as this year[5]. With consensus from all EU member states being required for Ukraine to join the union, the talks promise to be heated.
The newly elected Polish President, Krzysztof Nowak, has expressed his opposition towards Ukraine's entry into both the EU and NATO, potentially leading to contentious discussions among EU member states. His concerns stem from historical incidents like the Volyn Massacre, a genocide perpetrated against Poles by Ukrainian nationalists, and the influx of Ukrainian agricultural products that he believes fosters unjust trade competition.
