What the new Polish president agreed on with Trump and how it affects Ukraine
On 3 September, Poland’s new president Karol Nawrocki made his first foreign visit, choosing Washington as his destination. In part, this visit was a gesture of gratitude, during the election campaign, Trump openly supported Nawrocki and even received him at the White House.
No less important, however, was the desire to show that under the new president, Polish-American relations would see a new renaissance and that Poland would remain a key US ally in Europe.
It can already be said that Nawrocki, alongside Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has become one of the EU’s main communicators with the US president.
Read more in the article by in the article by Stanislav Zhelikhovsky, PhD in political science and international expert, and Yurii Panchenko, European Pravda's editor: Trump’s new friend: did the Polish president’s visit to the US benefit Ukraine?
The White House meeting began with a symbolic gesture, eight fighter jets flew overhead. Among them was a tribute to Polish pilot Major Maciej Krakowian, who tragically died the day before while preparing for an air show.
This gesture highlighted Donald Trump’s special attitude toward Poland and its new leader.
Nawrocki became the first winner of European elections who received Trump’s open sympathy.
The key success of the visit concerned the American military presence in Poland. Trump’s response was clear: the United States had never considered withdrawing troops from Poland and might even increase its contingent.
Another achievement: Poland will receive its first batch of F-35 aircraft as early as January next year. Although the contract was signed by the previous government, the issue had stalled after the change of power in Warsaw.
Finally, another "gift" was an invitation for Poland to participate in next year’s G20 summit in Florida.
Some Polish experts noted that Nawrocki practically did not raise the issue of Ukraine, at least not in the public part of the talks.
Still, Trump’s willingness to expand the US military presence in Poland is a positive signal for Ukraine. It suggests that the US president no longer trusts Vladimir Putin’s rhetoric about a supposed willingness to sign a peace deal.
That said, Kyiv should not expect major direct assistance from Karol Nawrocki. It is difficult to call him a "friend of Ukraine."
But by exposing Putin’s real plans, the Polish president undermines the narratives being fed to Trump not only by members of his own team but also by European leaders like Viktor Orbán.
Despite the important statements and the significance of the event itself, Nawrocki’s visit to the US was also part of his domestic power struggle with Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
The success of Nawrocki’s Washington trip (acknowledged even by his opponents) is expected to strengthen his hand in competing with the government over the right to shape Poland’s foreign policy.
This internal rivalry, however, could weaken Poland’s international standing.
Notably, Trump’s team made clear they do not wish to take sides in Poland’s domestic political conflict.