In a statement on Oct. 26, 2023, Ukraine denied reports that President Karol Nawrocki would decline a Kyiv visit, noting Warsaw had proposed multiple dates.
Polish Media Reports No Obstacle to Nawrocki’s Kyiv Visit
On Sunday, 26 October, the newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza cited sources from Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It claimed that, despite clear signals from the Ukrainian side, President Karol Nawrocki has no intention of visiting President Zelensky in Kyiv.
Polish Official Defends Position and Emphasises Concrete Outcomes
Marcin Przydacz, head of the International Politics Office in the President’s Office, was questioned about the issue on TVN24 on Monday. He replied that if President Zelenski wishes to meet Nawrocki, “nothing stands in the way for him to board a train and come to Warsaw for a meeting.” He added that a presidential visit should focus on tangible matters rather than being “a visit for a visit.”
Przydacz said that if he were to advise the Ukrainian side, he would advance concrete subjects such as historical topics, so the visit would be a conclusion of a process, not its beginning.
Ukrainian Response: No Sign of Opposition, Dates Already Proposed
Poland has offered several possible dates for President Nawrocki’s visit to Kyiv, and Ukraine has not sent any negative signals. According to Ukrainian Ambassador in Poland, Wasyl Bodnar, the proposal was received by the Polish side for further consideration.
Bodnar said he has discussed the matter multiple times with Przydacz, most recently on 15 October, and never encountered a negative reply from the President’s Office.
Ambassador Bodnar Stresses Importance of Presidential Interaction
Bodnar remarked that contacts between the presidents of Ukraine and Poland are significant. He expressed surprise at reports suggesting the visit could be impossible and highlighted that it is normal diplomatic practice for a president to visit a neighboring country first.
