The opposition candidate in Poland’s presidential election has pledged to both keep Ukraine out of NATO and to not send any troops to Ukraine. Karol Nawrocki, endorsed by Law and Justice (PiS), as an independent candidate won 30% in the first round on May 18, while the pro-EU Rafal Trzaskowski, from Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s ruling party, received 31%. The next day, Nawrocki received the support of Confederation party leader Slawomir Mentzen and signed an 8-point declaration with him, during a live broadcast. It included: “I will not allow Polish soldiers to be sent to Ukrainian territory. I will not sign a law ratifying Ukraine’s accession to NATO.”
Nawrocki, both anti-EU and anti-Russia, had previously stated that he was ready to withdraw his support for Ukraine entering NATO, and he had said that the discussion on Ukraine entering NATO was meaningless. For this, war hawk Prime Minister Donald Tusk had attacked him for effectively endorsing Kremlin demands.
Commenting on the point about not sending Polish soldiers to Ukraine, Nawrocki stated: “I will send Polish business people when Ukraine is rebuilding.”
