Nawrocki Excluded from Ukraine Recovery Conference; Kosiniak-Kamysz Defends Decision

The Ukraine Recovery Conference, hosted in Gdańsk this Thursday and Friday, will proceed without Karol Nawrocki, as government officials frame the event as a pragmatic forum for ministers and investors.

Government Rationale for the Exclusion

On Monday, Marcin Przydacz, head of the Presidential International Policy Bureau, confirmed that Karol Nawrocki did not receive an invitation to the conference. He stated that since the president was not invited, he would not be attending the event.

Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, addressing the matter in Madrid, explained that the event serves a highly practical purpose and is hosted by Prime Minister Donald Tusk. The Minister of National Defense asserted that the exclusion is neither a faux-pas nor a point of friction, emphasizing that the president has his own constitutional role.

Balancing Economic Cooperation with Historical Memory

Kosiniak-Kamysz highlighted the importance of returning to a dialogue centered on the economy and security, while maintaining respect for history, particularly regarding the victims of the Volhynia genocide. He noted that he had received calls from the Polish Business Council and the Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers to prioritize shared economic interests.

The minister urged Nawrocki to initiate a direct conversation with President Zelenskyy. He criticized what he described as a tendency within the Presidential Palace to overstep constitutional bounds, while stressing that there is still a significant role for the president to play in bilateral relations.

Escalating Diplomatic Tensions

Kosiniak-Kamysz called on Nawrocki to discuss the sensitivity surrounding the Ukrainian military unit named after the “Heroes of the UPA.” He argued that it is impossible to build friendly relations while ignoring historical truths or escalating tensions.

The diplomatic strain is further underscored by the recent revocation of President Zelenskyy’s Order of the White Eagle by Nawrocki, an action that led the Ukrainian leader to return the decoration. The Gdańsk conference aims to coordinate international support for rebuilding Ukraine following the ongoing Russian aggression.