President-elect Karol Nawrocki has given his first foreign interview since winning the presidential election in Poland, speaking with the Hungarian weekly Mandiner. In the interview, Nawrocki affirmed his commitment to strengthening the Visegrád Group (V4) and the Bucharest Nine. According to him, closer cooperation within the V4 is crucial to bolstering NATO’s eastern flank.
“I won thanks to the votes of ordinary Poles”
Speaking on Polish-Hungarian relations, Nawrocki highlighted the countries’ shared historical experiences, such as their joint struggle against communist regimes—events that, as he noted, have brought the two nations closer together. He also mentioned that he has many friends in Hungary.
“Hungary is a very important ally for Poland,” he declared.
In the interview, conducted in Warsaw, the president-elect reiterated that Poland will continue to provide strategic and military support to Ukraine. However, he expressed his opposition to the country’s rapid accession to the European Union. “Kyiv must first address its relations with neighboring states, particularly in terms of economic and historical issues, such as the Volhynia massacre,” he stated.
Nawrocki emphasized that Russia and its aggressive policies remain the primary threat in the East.
Reflecting on the recent election campaign in Poland, Nawrocki noted that he faced numerous attacks from the opposition and foreign actors, particularly the European People’s Party—the largest political group in the European Parliament, which includes Poland’s Civic Platform. Despite these challenges, he believes he prevailed thanks to “the votes of ordinary Poles.”