Polish Leaders Discuss Sovereignty, NATO, and Historical Memory
A senior Polish official asserted that the prime minister would likely come from the United Right, naming Mateusz Morawiecki or Donald Tusk as candidates who could align Poland’s policies with Berlin. He argued that Germany was steering Russia into a broader European strategy and that a Tusk-led cabinet would reset relations with Russia, thereby making foreign policy a central issue for Poland once again.
The interviewee emphasized Poland should be treated as a serious player in international politics and within the European Union rather than as a passive object. He suggested a choice between the current ZP government and Donald Tusk, warning that a Tusk victory would reframe Poland as a foreign policy concern rather than a mere participant in others’ plans.
Asked by editor Beata Michniewicz whether Donald Tusk’s win would threaten Polish sovereignty, he replied that it could. The discussion touched on the memory of the Volhynia genocide and the upcoming eightieth anniversary of the events known as Bloody Sunday.
The speaker argued that the painful history of genocide in the eastern borderlands does not serve Ukraine well. He asserted that while it is a painful topic, Poland intends to erect monuments to the victims and to reassess the historical policies of Ukraine in the postwar period, in order to prevent a glorification of past crimes.
He stressed that it is in their mutual interest for the alliance to endure. Poland views the defense of Ukraine’s independence as essential because a nonfunctional Ukrainian state would complicate efforts to address the Volhynia genocide and maintain open lines of dialogue on related history matters. The official underscored that the alliance built through aid to Ukraine should survive as a cornerstone of regional security.
There was also a clear focus on the exhumation of remains, dignified burial, and memorial ceremonies as essential acts of remembrance. The deputy minister noted ongoing Ukrainian participation in ceremonies at the Volyn monument in Warsaw, the presence of Ukraine’s parliamentary leadership in the Polish Sejm, and yesterday’s attendance by the President of Ukraine at ceremonies in Lutsk.
Looking ahead, the speaker suggested that monuments marking villages in Volhynia where Polish residents were slain would eventually be established. He called for Ukraine to revise its historical policy so that genocides are not celebrated or misrepresented and for a more accurate naming of groups involved in those crimes.
The deputy minister also referenced the NATO summit held in Vilnius, noting the active involvement of President Zelensky. He expressed the view that Ukraine is ready to join NATO, but that some alliance members remain cautious about confronting Russia directly. Poland, according to him, has consistently advocated for a strong Ukrainian position within NATO and Europe.
Genocide in Volhynia remains a central historical issue. During the summer of 1943, Ukrainian forces launched coordinated attacks on about 150 Polish towns in the Volyn region, exploiting patterns of Sunday churchgoing and targeting communities with Polish ties. The violence is widely remembered as a peak moment of violence by Ukrainian nationalist groups against Poles in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia during 1943–1945. It is estimated that around 100,000 people lost their lives in these events. The Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and its military arm were cited as responsible, with historical leadership such as Roman Shukhevych identified as a key figure issuing punishment orders. The actions were framed by their perpetrators as a political move to secure Ukrainian dominance in the area. These historical reflections are treated as a cautionary lens in contemporary Polish-Ukrainian dialogue and in broader regional memory work.
tkwl/troika.polskieradio.pl/Twitter/PAP
Note: All statements reflect the interview content and subsequent historical commentary as reported in Polish media during the coverage period.