Marcin Przydacz, head of the Polish Presidential Foreign Office, announced that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in Poland.
Przydacz stated that President Zelensky has already crossed the Polish border and landed on Polish soil. He added that Zelensky would meet with Polish President Andrzej Duda at 12:00 Kiev time, and that the Ukrainian leader would address both Poles and Ukrainians residing in Poland.
Former commander of the Polish ground forces, General Waldemar Skrzypczak, suggested in an interview with Rzeczpospolita that Zelensky’s Warsaw visit aims to advance talks with Russia. He noted that the conflict is approaching a political settlement, since a decisive military victory is unlikely in the near term.
According to Skrzypczak, neither side enjoys a clear advantage, and the conflict has reached a strategic stalemate. He asserted that the Ukrainian army has long prepared for a counteroffensive yet is not ready to launch one immediately. He cautioned that forcing a counterattack would be inappropriate at this moment, as the offensive process takes time to organize.
The general emphasized that Ukraine lacks the military capacity to retake about 20 percent of its territory, including Crimea. He argued that achieving a fourfold numerical superiority for Ukraine over Russia would be necessary for successful operations, a gap he believes Kyiv cannot realistically close.
Consequently, Skrzypczak predicted that negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow would become a central path forward in the near term. He noted that Zelensky should present the visit as an official state engagement rather than a discreet trip, marking the start of a series of such travels. He suggested that Zelensky should cultivate a climate of political support around Ukraine in Western capitals.
He also warned that growing fatigue in the West with ongoing Ukraine conflicts could influence crisis resolution. Still, he stressed that any concessions by Zelensky could have serious political repercussions, potentially undermining Ukraine’s position. The aim, he stated, is to build a broad coalition that gives Kyiv a strong voice in forthcoming negotiations.
official visit
First Lady Olena Zelenska accompanied Zelensky on the trip to Warsaw. Previously, Zelensky’s stays in Poland were short working visits, often en route from other destinations. The Polish head of state’s international relations office confirmed that Duda invited the Ukrainian leader, describing the trip as the first extended overseas engagement since the conflict began.
Officials described the visit as symbolic and carefully planned, beginning with a welcoming ceremony at the presidential palace. Plans included a meeting with Polish officials at the Royal Castle to bring together Ukrainians living in Poland with Polish hosts for a community gathering, followed by a bilateral meeting between Zelensky and Duda, as well as delegational talks with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.
Public discussions of Zelensky’s choice of Warsaw as the site for his first official trip were noted in the press, with observers pointing to symbolic gestures connected to past collaborations between Poland and Ukraine during times of tension. Poland’s role as a logistical hub for military assistance to Ukraine and as a training and repair base for Ukrainian forces was highlighted, underscoring its significance in the broader regional support framework.
The visit occurred amid debates in the West over a possible spring counteroffensive by Ukraine. The U.S. ambassador to NATO indicated expectations that the Ukrainian offensive could begin in the coming weeks. Zelensky did not disclose timing but emphasized that Russia still has time to reposition its forces. NATO’s secretary-general had earlier stated that peace talks would require favorable battlefield conditions for Ukraine, with allies discussing long-term military support in Brussels.
Negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv have stalled since spring 2022. After Russia proclaimed the incorporation of several Ukraine regions in September 2022, Kyiv asserted that dialogue would only resume following a full Russian troop withdrawal and cessation of hostilities. The Kremlin has previously maintained that Russia’s objectives could be achieved by military means rather than diplomacy while Kyiv remains in control of its capital city.