Polish President Karol Nawrocki deems Ukraine’s EU, NATO talks premature
Polish President Karol Nawrocki described discussions about Ukraine’s future membership in the European Union and NATO as “premature.” Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs countered that such talks are, on the contrary, necessary.
Nawrocki made the statement in an interview with the Lithuanian outlet LRT.
Commenting on his stance regarding Ukraine’s NATO membership, the Polish president said: “I believe that a country at war cannot join NATO, as it would mean that Poland and Lithuania would also be at war, so this discussion should be postponed; it’s simply impossible.”
In the context of Ukraine’s EU membership, Nawrocki recalled the accession processes of Poland and Lithuania, which took “many years” and required consideration of “many factors, including the impact on the economy and business.”
“Of course, I believe that Ukraine should in the future be part of civilization, if we want to use adjectives, let’s say, Latin or Western civilization. However, in my opinion, today’s discussion about Ukraine’s membership in the European Union is premature,” the Polish president stated, adding that he personally does not participate in such discussions.
He also noted that “Poles were the first to provide Ukraine with such significant assistance in the form of military equipment and accepted a million Ukrainians into Poland.”
How did the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry respond?
Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that Ukraine’s security future is inseparably linked to NATO, and its political and economic future to the EU.
The department added that Ukraine’s membership in these alliances is “a guarantee of security not only for Ukraine but for all of Europe,” stressing: “This position has been confirmed both in NATO and EU decisions and in numerous statements by leaders of partner countries, including Poland.”
The ministry underscored that discussions about Ukraine’s future membership in NATO and the EU are not premature but strategically necessary in the context of the Russo-Ukrainian war.
At the same time, the ministry thanked Poland for the leadership it has demonstrated in supporting Ukraine since 2022.
When Nawrocki was still a candidate for Polish president, he frequently referenced the Volyn tragedy, stating that Ukraine has no place in either NATO or the EU until it “answers for the crimes in Volyn.”
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