Poland’s president-elect opposes fast-track EU membership for Ukraine

The elected president of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, has expressed his opposition to the rapid accession of Ukraine to the European Union.

In an interview with the Hungarian publication Mandiner, he emphasised that when discussing this issue, it is important to consider the interests of other countries that might be negatively affected by Ukraine’s accelerated integration process, Caliber.Az reports.

“At this moment, I am against Ukraine joining the European Union,” Nawrocki said.  

He added that Ukraine must recognise that other European countries, such as Poland and Hungary, have their own interests.

Ukraine’s EU membership could negatively impact the economy and agriculture of these countries, Nawrocki stressed, adding that even as a candidate from the opposition party Law and Justice, he did not support this idea and will not change his opinion after assuming office.

Furthermore, he pointed out that Kyiv has yet to fulfil several of Warsaw’s conditions, including the issue of reburial of the victims of the Volhynia massacre — the mass killing of Polish people by Ukrainian nationalists in 1943.

“We need to find a compromise and reach an agreement on these matters,” Nawrocki added.

On June 2, Karol Nawrocki, a historian and conservative politician, won Poland's 2025 presidential election with 50.89% of the vote, narrowly defeating Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski. Nawrocki is set to assume office on August 6, 2025, succeeding Andrzej Duda.

Nawrocki, 42, a newcomer to politics who previously ran a national remembrance institute, campaigned on a promise to ensure economic and social policies favour Poles over other nationalities, including refugees from neighbouring Ukraine.

By Khagan Isayev