Karol Nawrocki, along with any other Polish representatives, will not travel to the United States to attend the meeting involving Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky, provoking consternation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the media.
Meeting Trump‑Zelensky Without Polish Representation
Donald Trump’s talks with Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders about ending the war in Ukraine will take place on Monday, August 18. Neither Karol Nawrocki nor Donald Tusk will attend. Vice‑Minister of Foreign Affairs Władysław Teofil Bartoszewski was asked by Marcin Fijołek on Polsat News whether this is a failure of Polish diplomacy.
Donald Trump’s Key Role?
The Deputy Minister said Polish representation in the US is not a problem. Decisions will be made within a small American circle; European representatives will not participate in negotiations, giving them limited influence. One person will make the decisions, the minister said in a PAP interview. He added that on Sunday, Radosław Sikorski presented Poland’s position in a video conference with European leaders.
MSZ Reacts
Foreign Affairs spokesperson Paweł Wroński reminded that Karol Nawrocki had recently represented Poland at a video conference with Donald Trump at the request of the US side. The US secretary said European representatives had been invited to the United States. Wroński added that he did not know whether the US president had sent the invitation to Poland’s president.
Karol Nawrocki’s Spokesperson Explains
When asked about Nawrocki’s absence, his spokesperson Rafał Leśkiewicz noted that the president will soon meet with Donald Trump. “The president prioritises preparations for the 3 September visit, where security matters for Poland and the broader region, including the situation in Ukraine, will be a key agenda item,” the representative said in an interview with PAP.
Who Will Attend the Talks?
Donald Trump will meet with Volodymyr Zelensky at 13:00 local time (19:00 Poland). The meeting will also include EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
