Sonia Rybus and Aleksandra Tomaszewska, both 15, explain why the war in Ukraine is a key factor in the election
A protest supporting Ukraine. US Embassy in Warsaw, Poland, 3 March 2025.
April 18, 2025
War next door: What are the candidates’ stances on the war in Ukraine?
One of the key questions Polish citizens will ask themselves before they vote in the presidential election on 18 May is how the result will influence Poland’s policy towards the conflict in Ukraine. The war between Russia and Ukraine is now in its fourth year, and Poland has borders with both these countries, so the subject is of major concern for Poles.
Looking at the campaigns of the three leading candidates, we can see that their views on Ukraine are indeed diverse. The question is, which one of them will win the most support from the public?
Harbingers’ Weekly Brief
Written by teenagers for teenagers, delivered every Friday afternoon to your inbox, with what’s best from the world’s youngest newsroom and its publisher, the Oxford School for the Future of Journalism
![author_bio]()
![author_bio]()
![author_bio]()
Rafal Trzaskowski from the liberal Civic Platform (PO) party – currently the frontrunnerby some margin – has been unwavering in his support for the Ukrainian people. He saysthat Warsaw, where he is mayor, is becoming a multinational city because of the large number of Ukrainians (and other nationalities) now living there.
He acknowledges the efforts made by the Polish government in welcoming Ukrainian refugees – the country has taken in almost a millionsince the war began in 2022 – but he believes that their approach was too chaotic. He highlights the need for Ukraine to join NATOand European structures, or else it will fall under Putin’s power.
Trzaskowski’s stance on the war in Ukraine is a crucial part of his campaign, but we have noticed some shifts in his policy, such as ensuring that the “800+” monthly benefit per child (worth about 186 euros) goes only to Ukrainians who pay taxes and are working.Trzaskowski seems to have adopted this populist argumentto please right-wing voters. Is the candidate’s support actually unwavering or are his kind promises just words?
As for Karol Nawrocki, from the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, currently second in the polls, his stance on Ukraine is mixed.
Describing himself as a clear opponent of the Russian Federation, Nawrocki has expressed his intention to help the Ukrainian state recover from the war by sending Polish entrepreneurs to the country. However, when asked about providing active military assistance to the Ukrainian army, he responded: “I do not support sending Polish soldiers to Ukraine.”
Nawrocki has also said he cannot picture Ukraine in any international alliances, including the EU and NATO, until the exhumations and reburial of the victims of the Volhynian massacre in 1943–45 are settled.
This controversial statement made headlines in Russia, where news agencies claimed that Poland had stated that there is no place in NATO for Ukraine. This sparked further backlash, and outrage among both Poles and Ukrainians.
In addition to the heavy emphasis that Nawrocki puts on accountability for Ukraine’s past actions, he also speaks of mutuality in relations – which seems inappropriate for a country currently in the middle of a war.
Sławomir Mentzen, the candidate from the far-right Confederation (Konfederacja) party, has openly expressed his lack of empathy towards Ukraine’s plight. “It’s their problem,” he said,pointing out that to him only Polish interests matter. Some accuse him of hypocrisy, citing his statements from three years prior, in which he clearly supported Ukraine.
As expected, Mentzen is also against sending Polish troops to help the Ukrainians. In fact, he doesn’t want Poland to get involved in the conflict in any way – even though both countries are next door:Poland’s border with Ukraine is more than 500 km long, Russia’s over 200 km.
In his statements, he sharply separates the two countries, trying to emphasise the lack of any alliances; and he recently saidthat Ukraine has been treating Poland as “suckers” rather than partners.
It is a fact that the war in Ukraine is a crucial topic in Polish politics, and candidates have made it the centrepiece of their campaigns. However, some people believe the focus on Ukraine is overshadowing other important domestic issues, such as the economy, healthcare and social issues.
While Trzaskowski portrays his support for Ukraine as a matter of both moral and strategic necessity, Nawrocki’s approach combines caution with historical grudges, and Mentzen outright rejects any involvement in Ukraine. But are the candidates doing what is best for Poland, or is the war just a way to gain support in the election? Do they actually plan on fulfilling their promises of helping Ukraine?
Ultimately, Polish voters will decide which candidate’s vision represents their own best interests when it comes to security, national identity and international relations.
Edited by:
© 2025 The Oxford School for the Future of Journalism