Polish MEP says government "lost again" as Ukraine-EU talks advance

On June 13, Polish Member of the European Parliament Anna Bryłka criticised the government's handling of Ukraine's European Union accession process, arguing Warsaw had failed to use its leverage to slow membership negotiations.

Bryłka's comments came after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said substantive accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova could begin soon.

Writing on X, Bryłka said the Polish government had done nothing to influence the process despite concerns over unresolved bilateral issues with Kyiv.

"How did the Polish government respond to this situation? Absolutely not at all," she wrote. "Open letters or online scandals mean nothing; in the real game, the Polish government has once again lost."

The lawmaker argued that Warsaw had missed an opportunity to pressure Ukraine to revise its historical policy towards Poland, an issue that has periodically strained relations between the two countries despite Poland's strong support for Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.

The remarks reflect broader concerns among some Polish politicians over Ukraine's path towards EU membership. Earlier, Deputy Speaker of the Sejm Krzysztof Bosak said Poland should not approve Ukraine's accession to the bloc until Kyiv fulfils all of Warsaw's conditions.

Bosak said Ukraine must demonstrate respect for the Polish minority living in the country before it can join the European Union.

By Aghakazim Guliyev