Polish President Karol Nawrocki said Monday in Vilnius that his view on Ukraine’s path to joining the European Union differs from that of Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, who has called for setting a firm accession date.
Nausėda has repeatedly urged the EU to commit to admitting Ukraine on January 1, 2030. Nawrocki, however, struck a more cautious tone, signalling reservations about Kyiv’s bid.
“We view Ukraine’s integration into the EU somewhat differently with President Nausėda,” Nawrocki told reporters after meeting his Lithuanian counterpart. “Our conversations will continue at another level. I do not rule out full solidarity with Ukraine, but these are matters between Poland and Ukraine.”
Nawrocki has also recently opposed proposals from Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government to extend protections for Ukrainian refugees in Poland and has resisted Ukraine’s push to join NATO.
Ukraine formally applied for EU membership shortly after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. But talks on its accession have stalled, with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán blocking further steps.
Budapest argues that admitting a country at war would pose security risks and could drag Hungary into direct confrontation with Russia.
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