**Polish President-Elect Opposes Ukraine’s EU Membership**
Poland’s new president, Karol Nawrocki, has expressed his opposition to Ukraine’s entry into the European Union. In an interview with Hungarian outlet Mandiner on June 7, Nawrocki stated that while Poland supports Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, Ukraine must respect other countries’ interests.
**A Complicated View**
Nawrocki won the Polish presidential election on June 1 with 50.89% of the vote. His views on Ukraine’s EU membership are not new, as he has previously expressed opposition to Ukraine joining both the EU and NATO. However, despite his stance, Nawrocki still supports Ukraine’s sovereignty.
**Interest in Exhumation**
Nawrocki cited Poland’s interest in exhuming victims of the World War II era massacres in Western Ukraine as a reason for his opposition. This exhumation process began on April 24 and is the first such effort since 2017, when Ukraine imposed a moratorium due to concerns about Polish actions.
**Fair Competition**
Nawrocki also expressed concern over unfair competition between Poland and Ukraine in agricultural exports and logistics. EU tariffs on Ukrainian agricultural exports resumed on June 6 amid opposition from eastern European members like Hungary and Poland.
**Respecting Other Countries’ Interests**
In his interview, Nawrocki emphasized the need for Ukraine to respect the interests of other countries that support it. This stance contrasts with some Eurosceptic leaders in Europe who have expressed pro-Russian views.
**A Different Approach**
Unlike Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Nawrocki does not express pro-Russian views but instead has accused President Volodymyr Zelensky of taking advantage of allies. This difference in approach may influence Poland’s stance on Ukraine’s EU membership in the future.
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