WARSAW – Polish President Karol Nawrocki took center stage representing Poland during a high-profile teleconference on Ukraine involving U.S. President Donald Trump and several European leaders on Wednesday, his office confirmed via the social media platform X.
In an initially conflicting report, the office of Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a political rival of Nawrocki, stated that Tusk participated in a separate video conference with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and European leaders. However, media outlets aligned with Nawrocki’s conservative nationalist faction, including the right-wing broadcaster TV Republika, reported that Nawrocki was the official Polish representative in the meeting with Trump at 1300 GMT and had been briefed by Poland’s foreign ministry.
Rafal Leskiewicz, spokesperson for President Nawrocki, declared explicitly that “Prime Minister Donald Tusk is not participating in the meeting with President Trump. Poland is represented by President Karol Nawrocki.” Meanwhile, government spokesman Adam Szlapka clarified that Tusk was involved in two separate calls on Wednesday with European leaders but notably not in the one that included Trump.
Karol Nawrocki, known for his conservatism, nationalism, and euroscepticism, is an ally to Trump’s MAGA movement and had a significant presence during Poland’s recent presidential campaign, including a notable visit to the White House. Despite political differences, both Nawrocki and Tusk, representing Poland’s conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party and centrist government respectively, remain staunch supporters of Ukraine amid its ongoing conflict with invading Russian forces.
This teleconference marks an essential moment of diplomatic engagement as global leaders discuss strategies related to Ukraine’s security and the broader regional stability threatened by Russian aggression. Nawrocki’s role signals Poland’s continued commitment to shaping the international response to the conflict, reaffirming its strategic partnership with the U.S. and close cooperation with European allies.