Ukraine takes center stage in Polish presidential debate

PAP reported the information.

During Friday’s TV debate organized by TVP, TVN, and Polsat, both candidates asked each other three questions across six topics: health, foreign policy, economy, social policy, security, and worldview.

Migration and Ukraine repeatedly came up. Both candidates distanced themselves from the migration pact. Nawrocki said if elected, he would unilaterally withdraw from the pact, while Trzaskowski claimed the pact “will never come into effect” due to Poland’s aid to Ukraine.

"I was the one who recorded in EU documents that if we help Ukrainians, we will not accept anyone else," said Trzaskowski.

Nawrocki accused him of lying and asked for a specific document. Trzaskowski replied he meant the 2015 resolution. "I don’t think there was a war in Ukraine in 2015," said Nawrocki, to which Trzaskowski responded that the occupation of Crimea was already a war.

During the security segment, Trzaskowski asked Nawrocki whether he opposes Ukraine’s NATO membership, noting that Nawrocki speaks the same language as Vladimir Putin on this issue.

"I speak the language of the Poles; (...) If the President of Ukraine treats us badly, we have the right to say so. And millions of Poles in Poland today would like to say this but cannot, because immediately the slogan ‘you’re speaking Putin’s propaganda’ appears," Nawrocki responded.

He said that, “as a person persecuted by the Russian Federation,” he can be “the voice of those who disagree that Ukraine is flooding us with grain and creating unfair competition.”

Answering a question about his relations with US President Donald Trump, Trzaskowski said he has never spoken “badly” about him and has “sensational relations with the Republicans.” “Trump is not one to like people who come to kiss him in the ring. He values those who are tough and influential,” he said. Nawrocki admitted that “actually, Trump likes strong and influential men who speak with the voice of their people and for their cause.”

• On Sunday, May 18, 2025, Poland held the first round of its presidential election. According to data from most polling stations, the two leading candidates heading to the runoff are separated by less than 2%.