The Speaker of the Polish parliament sparked controversy during a visit to Kyiv, announcing that Poland would help Ukraine join the European Union “as soon as possible.”
Marshal of the Sejm Włodzimierz Czarzasty claimed that Ukrainian EU membership would strengthen security for both countries—while revealing an agreement with Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada (parliament) to accelerate accession talks.
Czarzasty is a leader of the left-wing Lewica party, a junior partner in Poland’s ruling coalition, which is dominated by Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s Civic Coalition (KO).
Czarzasty’s remarks drew swift criticism from coalition partners. Polish People’s Party (PSL) leaders warned that rapid EU accession could harm Polish agriculture.
Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz stressed that Ukraine must meet EU anti-corruption and rule-of-law standards and demanded that the country address the 1943 Volhynia massacres—in which around 100,000 ethnic Poles were killed—before accession could proceed.
Czarzasty’s comments in Kyiv also drew sharp criticism from President Karol Nawrocki’s chief of staff, who belongs to the right-wing opposition and has previously opposed Ukraine joining both the EU and NATO.
Zbigniew Bogucki said that Czarzasty “confused his functions” and had no authority to speak on behalf of Poland, adding that “such statements jeopardise the reputation of the Polish state.”
The right-wing opposition group, Confederation (Konfederacja), also condemned his remarks, with leader Sławomir Mentzen warning that “If Ukraine joins the EU, Poland will be the biggest loser.”
Survey shows that while a majority of Poles support Ukraine joining the EU in principle, most reject a fast-track process. Only 12% favor immediate membership without Ukraine meeting all criteria, while 57% prefer a gradual approach. Kosiniak-Kamysz previously declared that Ukraine would have “no chance” of EU membership until it acknowledged Volhynia through exhumations or commemorations. Hungary and Slovakia have also cited issues with Ukraine’s approach to minority rights and EU rules.
