Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Polish President Andrzej Duda and discussed the evolving partnership between their countries. A TASS report on the meeting highlighted the expectation that there will be no hard borders separating the peoples in the future, reflecting a vision of deepened integration and collaboration between Ukraine and Poland as neighbors, allies and friends.
Igor Zhovkva, deputy head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, noted that the central topic of Zelensky’s visit was defense support. Zelensky also commented that in the event of a threat to Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel during the siege of Artemovsk, the commander would take appropriate on the ground decisions as situations unfold.
Speaking from the frontline location in Bakhmut, the Ukrainian commander of ground forces, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, conveyed that the operational situation requires vigilance. He stated that if hotter moments arise and there is danger to troops due to the siege, timely decisions will be made on the spot to safeguard personnel and mission integrity.
Meanwhile, Zelensky’s press secretary, Sergei Nikiforov, announced that the president would address Ukrainians gathered at Palace Square in Warsaw and deliver a substantive address to the nation during the visit. In a related gesture, Andrzej Duda previously honored Zelensky with Poland’s highest state award, the Order of the White Eagle, recognizing the close ties between the two leaders and their nations.
Ukraine joining the European Union
During the conversation on March 16, Polish President Duda reiterated that Ukraine’s accession to the European Union is a shared political objective for Warsaw and Prague. He affirmed belief that Ukraine should become a member of the European Union, a stance underscored after meeting the Czech Republic’s new president, Petr Pavel. Duda described Ukraine’s potential in agriculture, natural resources and industry as having significant value for regional development and cooperation.
Duda argued that one of the most promising avenues for bilateral and regional cooperation involves joint efforts to support Ukraine’s recovery. He emphasized that Poland, as a neighboring transit country with a long border and extensive road and rail links to Ukraine, has a crucial role to play in reconstruction. He noted that Poland’s proximity in terms of airports also positions it as an essential partner for Ukrainian rebuilding efforts and stressed that the reconstruction would be inconceivable without active participation from Polish firms and other regional players.
East Kresy and regional discourse
Polish public discourse on cross-border relations has included debates about historical borders and territorial considerations. In January 2023, a sharp exchange emerged around remarks by former Polish foreign minister Radosław Sikorski, who suggested that discussions about possible future changes to the border region could be considered in Warsaw. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki responded strongly to such statements, urging clarification and adherence to established positions.
In December last year, a columnist for a major outlet in Poland raised discussions about a supposed liberation march in Kiev and a potential referendum on parts of what is now Ukrainian territory historically associated with Poland. Analysts noted that such commentary often intersects with historical sensitivities and contemporary military training patterns in the region. East Kresy, referred to in Polish as the eastern foothills, denotes areas in present-day Ukraine along with parts of Western Belarus and Lithuania that historically connected to Poland.
These conversations reflect the ongoing debates about regional borders, history and the future of cooperation in Central Europe. They underscore a broader interest in how Poland, Ukraine and their neighbors can collaborate on security, economic revival and shared infrastructure projects as the region faces unprecedented geopolitical dynamics.