"Great irresponsibility": public figure Materniak on candidate Nawrocki’s Ukraine comment

He shared his opinions with Espreso TV.

"In fact, everything is just beginning, as the election campaign, if I'm not mistaken, is set to start on January 18. There are still four months left before the elections in May this year. The level of tension will increase as the election date approaches. What Mr. Nawrocki said was very irresponsible. Unfortunately, it must be noted that he is not the first to make such remarks about the crimes of World War II," said the head of the Poland-Ukraine Research Center.

In his opinion, from the perspective of both today's Poland and Poland 20 years ago, Ukraine's accession to the EU and NATO is a crucial strategic security issue — ensuring that Ukraine is both a member of the European Union and part of the Alliance.

“And if anyone, whether a candidate from today's opposition in Poland or pro-government politicians, who have also made such statements — meaning from both sides of the political spectrum — says these things, it is highly irresponsible. I believe that such views are in direct conflict with our national interests. If anyone is attempting to trade our national security interests, for example, for the sake of an election campaign, then that is truly regrettable. And I will say once again, this is a great irresponsibility,” emphasized Dariusz Materniak.

• On January 9, Karol Nawrocki, the opposition Law and Justice Party’s presidential candidate, stated that Ukraine cannot join the EU or NATO until issues like the Volyn tragedy are resolved.
• In response, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk addressed Jarosław Kaczyński, leader of the Law and Justice Party, asking if he was ashamed of Nawrocki’s stance on Ukraine’s NATO aspirations.