Nawrocki Excluded from Ukraine Recovery Conference; Government Cites Lack of Presidential Interest

President Karol Nawrocki will not attend the 2026 Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdańsk, as government officials confirm he received no invitation due to the event’s format and the Presidential Palace’s indifference.

The Absence of Invitations

Marcin Przydacz, head of the Presidential International Policy Bureau, announced that President Karol Nawrocki was not invited to the Ukraine Recovery Conference. Przydacz stated that, to his knowledge, invitations to foreign partners were issued jointly by Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Przydacz emphasized that the President will not attend an event for which he was not invited by the Prime Minister, and confirmed that no subordinate officials would attend either.

Government Explanations

Government spokesperson Adam Szłapka explained that the lack of an invitation for the President resulted from the specific formula of the event. Furthermore, Szłapka noted that the Presidential Palace had shown no interest in participating in the conference.

Kyiv’s Perspective

Dmytro Lytvyn, an advisor to the Ukrainian President, commented on the situation, stating that it would be inappropriate for Ukraine to invite the Polish President to an event held within Poland. He characterized the matter as an internal Polish affair.

Conference Details

The Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC 2026) is scheduled for June 25–26, 2026, in Gdańsk. Co-organized by Poland and Ukraine, the event aims to bolster international support for post-war reconstruction and stimulate investment in the Ukrainian economy.

Historical Tensions

The conference follows recent diplomatic friction involving Karol Nawrocki’s decision to revoke the Order of the White Eagle from Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This action was taken in response to a Ukrainian military unit being named after “Heroes of the UPA.”

Nawrocki stated that the dispute concerns historical memory and Poland’s refusal to accept the red-and-black Banderite flag. He argued that all patriots understand the historical crimes committed by Ukrainian nationalists against Polish lands.