Political feud erupts in Poland over Trump-Zelenskyy meeting
European leaders meet with Trump in Washington (Photo: Getty Images)
A scandal has erupted in Poland between the government and President Karol Nawrocki’s administration over the absence of Polish representatives at the Washington meeting on August 18, according to Polska Agencja Prasowa and Gazeta Wyborcza.
Journalists sent an inquiry to the press office of Poland’s newly elected President, Karol Nawrocki, regarding his absence from the August 18 Washington meeting between Trump, Zelenskyy, and European leaders.
In response, the president’s press office explained that Nawrocki did not attend the event because he is preparing for his official visit to the US, scheduled for September 3.
Nawrocki himself emphasized that after Trump’s talks with Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15, he participated in online discussions with Trump, European leaders, and Zelenskyy.
He also stated that the so-called Coalition of the Willing had gathered in Washington - French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and the prime ministers of the UK, Keir Starmer, and Italy, Giorgia Meloni. According to Nawrocki, Poland was supposed to be represented by Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
At the same time, the far-right party Confederation accused Ukraine of ignoring Poland. MEP Ewa Zajączkowska-Hernik said that Zelenskyy did not even mention Warsaw’s absence at the summit and criticized Ukraine for its ingratitude.
Meanwhile, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski emphasized on X that invitations to such meetings are sent exclusively by the US president, not by other participants. He urged President Nawrocki and his team to leverage good relations with Donald Trump to strengthen Poland’s position in Europe and globally.
Officially, neither the White House nor the Office of the President of Ukraine commented on the absence of the Polish delegation.
Zelenskyy-Trump meeting
On August 18, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Washington, where he held talks with Trump and European leaders at the White House.
After the negotiations, Trump called Putin to arrange a new round of talks at the level of heads of state.
Moscow has advocated for a bilateral format for the talks. At the same time, a trilateral summit involving the leaders of Ukraine, the US, and Russia could take place later.
Possible locations for a Zelenskyy-Putin meeting include Geneva or Hungary. Switzerland has already expressed its readiness to host the talks and provide Putin with immunity from an ICC warrant.
